Elliot Page ‘horrified’ by ‘inhumane and dangerous’ attacks on trans kids by Texas officials

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Elliot Page was “horrified” by Texas governor Greg Abbott equating gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers, to “child abuse”.

The actor spoke out after Abbott ordered state officials to investigate any reports of trans kids receiving gender-affirming care with a view to prosecute.

Abbott echoed the view of Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who earlier this week claimed gender-affirming surgeries (which are not routinely, if at all, received by under-18s) and puberty blockers could be considered child abuse under Texas law.

Page hit back in a statement to Variety, calling their views “inhumane”.

The actor said: “I am horrified by the inhumane and downright dangerous declarations by the Texas governor and attorney general.

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“Trans youth deserve gender-affirming care and to be able to live their true, authentic selves without fear and oppression. I stand with trans youth and their families.”

Sex-change operations and puberty blockers prescribed to kids is “child abuse” under Texas law.

These procedures are monstrous and tragic. “I’ll do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans. https://t.co/AOoO5NNmyC

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) February 21, 2022

Republican governor Abbott told the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in his letter that it is “responsible for protecting children from abuse”, and that trans youth should not be given access to gender-affirming healthcare.

He added that the agency should “conduct prompt and thorough investigations of any reported instances of Texas children being subjected to abusive gender-transitioning procedures.”

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Paxton, meanwhile, issued a 13-page legal opinion on Monday (21 February), asking officials to hammer down on trans healthcare.

Brian Klosterboer, staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, has insisted Abbott and Paxton’s words have “no legal effect” and can’t change the state’s law “nor usurp the constitutional rights” of families.

The White House has described Paxton’s “attack on loving parents who seek medical care for their transgender children” as being “dangerous to the health of kids in Texas”.

Since Paxton and Abbott’s statements, tens of thousands of people have taken a stand by creating a wave of online petitions fighting to protect trans youth from the damaging order.

One petition, signed by more than 22,000 people, calls on Abbott to “stop destroying transgender minor’s lives in Texas”.

Jessica Ryan, a 29-year-old trans woman who set up the petition, said she “cannot stand by and watch this happen.”

She added: “We cannot allow this to happen to our younger siblings.

“People in power need to understand that being transgender is not a choice, it’s not a mental illness, and helping your child get treatment for gender dysphoria is not abuse.”