Texas AG Ken Paxton EXPANDS ban on gender treatments for minors to include mental health providers
Texas AG Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion extending SB 14’s ban on gender-transition treatments for minors to include mental health professionals, labeling such facilitation as “child abuse” and threatening licensure repercussions.
Signed into law in 2023, SB 14 prohibits puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgeries for transgender minors. Though initially blocked by a lower court, the Texas Supreme Court upheld it in 2024, allowing enforcement.
LGBTQ+ advocates argue Paxton’s opinion will deter mental health care for transgender minors, exacerbating risks of depression and suicide. They claim therapeutic discussions remain protected under the First Amendment.
The AG has pursued disciplinary action against physicians violating SB 14, including license revocations. Critics accuse him of overreach, noting legislators previously assured mental health services wouldn’t be affected.
Advocacy groups plan to resist Paxton’s interpretation, while the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule on similar laws. Texas’ stance signals a broader push to restrict both medical and therapeutic support for transgender youth.
Read Full Article: https://www.naturalnews.com/2026-03-05-paxton-expands-ban-gender-treatments-for-minors.html
