WACO, Texas — Workers from Texas Child Protective Services are walking out on the job after an order came down from Gov. Greg Abbott to investigate families of transgender youth for child abuse.
Catch up: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered agencies to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender kids as child abuse.
In-Depth numbers:
Facts:
- Studies showthat doctors who give children the ability to transition, access puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones have lower rates of suicide and mental illness.
- 2021 a record number of anti-trans bills were introduced to state legislatures. Experts and doctors fear an increase in mental health of transgender because of dozens of bills introduced to criminalize gender-affirming health care.
"I can not get you medical care, I can not get you psychiatric care, or you will be like this, said Kelly Davis in a 25 News Interview who has recently put his notice in at CPS.
Kelly Davis, a transgender man, worked for the Texas’ child welfare agency as an investigator.
One of the first cases under an order to investigate parents of transgender children was placed on Davis's desk.
"It seems that the only reason was that single word, Trans," said Davis.
Davis who is still on the job trying to finish his caseload says he was part of a four-person team and as of Friday he'll be the only one left with his last Day in May.
"A staff that is dedicated but they are running on fumes," said Davis.
Even before Abbott’s order, Texas had a difficult time handling cases of child abuse, neglect and removal.
In 2015, Texas CPS received a slap in the face when U.S. District Judge Janis Jack said Texas was violating the constitutional rights of foster children, “often age out of care more damaged than when they entered.”
There had been a promise that Texas Child Protective Services would reform.
“It looks like we’re just going from bad to worse,” Jack said to the Texas Tribune.
Davis says there was a case where the parents were notified on a Friday by Sunday they left the State for Colorado.
"I took on this job because I truly believed that we were protecting children," said Davis.
The Texas AG's office has defended the order,Paxton issued his opinion saying that gender-affirming care for minors could be considered child abuse.
Since then, Paxton was flagged by Twitter after Assistant Secretary Health Rachel Levine, who is a transgender woman, called her a man after she was named one of USA Today’s “Women of the Year.”
For simply saying this matter-of-factly, Twitter blocked it as "hateful." Users can now only access my statement through a trigger-warning filter. And even then, users can neither like it nor comment on it. At the same time, hundreds of other verified accounts saying the exact same thing remain untouched and unfiltered.
My statement on Big Tech censorship ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7lejatKx2K
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) March 18, 2022
Paxton called it 'Big Tech censorship' and that he follow the science.
"But Big Tech is not only anti-conservative and anti-Republican. It is now apparently anti-truth and anti-science. I will continue to use all my power to hold them accountable. Even now, I'm exploring legal options to stop their one-sided censorship," said Paxton.
Davis hope's he's not right but believes this is political and a way to get votes.
"I've been doing my job very quietly until it was time to hand my badge in," said Davis.
