Protesters shut down vote on Texas’ trans youth health care ban

After activists organized a vigorous protest at the Texas state capitol this week, the vote on a ban on gender affirming medical care was postponed.

On Tuesday, demonstrators disrupted discussion in the Texas House by yelling, “Trans kids deserve more!” The bill, Senate Bill 14, would have prohibited the use of puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for trans adolescents. One demonstrator was apparently jailed and now faces a possible felony charge because of the delays, while another was barred from the capitol for a whole year. Despite the hickups, the protests may have been successful; SB 14 has been sent back to a committee to be revised before it is considered by the full House again. SB 14 has been designated as a “top priority” by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it if it reaches his desk.

Protesters have been active in the Texas Capitol against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation for months, with Tuesday’s event being the most recent. More than 140 proposals have been submitted in Texas in 2023, claims Equality Texas, all with the goal of reducing LGBTQ+ citizens’ legal protections and civil liberties. That’s more than double the previous record for a single state in a single year.