Transgender Issues

Dr. Ximena Lopez, a pediatric endocrinologist in Dallas, has been at the forefront of gender-affirming medical care for trans youth in Texas for the past 10 years. Now, as the state prepares to ban this care for minors, Lopez announced she’s closing her practice and moving to California.

After the hospital announced the departure of doctors in its adolescent medicine clinic, patients and their families are looking for new care providers — in Texas and beyond.

If Senate Bill 14 becomes law, the ban would take effect on Sept. 1. This would also make Texas one of over a dozen states that restrict transition-related care for transgender minors.

Bills like SB 14 would ban care for minors in the state and penalize doctors offering this care. Texans share how it’s felt to live in the state during this moment of uncertainty.

If Senate Bill 14 becomes law, Texas would prohibit the administration of puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender youth under 18. On Monday, the bill received final approval from the House, with several Democrats voting with their Republican colleagues.

The Texas Attorney General said he was following up on reports that the Austin children's hospital had "unlawfully" performed gender transitioning procedures.

LGBTQ rights activists had flooded the Texas Capitol on Tuesday ahead of an expected vote on Senate Bill 14, which would ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. The measure will likely be taken up by the chamber later this week.

Senate Republicans have decided to focus on bills that target gender-affirming care for minors, drag performances, and school books that talk about gender and sexuality.

In an interview with the Tribune, the governor also backed criminalizing some health care treatments for transgender kids and shrugged off the idea that he’s in a conservative policy rivalry with Ron DeSantis.

In 2021, Texas passed a law barring transgender student athletes from playing on K-12 school sports teams that align with their gender identity.