Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, located in Austin, on Friday, aiming to determine whether the facility is unlawfully providing certain gender-affirming medical care to minors. Paxton expressed concerns about the trend of what he calls “transgender extremism,” stating that there is no place for it in Texas.
Alleged Illegal Activity Spurs Investigation
Paxton referred to a number of recent reports about potentially illegal activity at the center, prompting the investigation. Although he did not provide any details about the reports, the announcement follows a video released last month by Project Veritas, a far-right activist group, in which an alleged Dell Children’s employee claimed patients there start transitioning at 8 and 9 years old. A spokesperson for the center said that the organization prohibits surgery and prescribing hormone therapy for the treatment of gender dysphoria for children.
Republican Efforts to Restrict Transition-Related Care
The investigation is part of a broader effort by Republican state officials to restrict transition-related care for minors. In February 2022, Paxton issued a legal opinion classifying gender-affirming care for minors as child abuse and directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to act accordingly. The next day, Gov. Greg Abbott released a directive urging licensed professionals and the general public to report the parents of transgender minors to state authorities if the minors appear to be receiving gender-affirming medical care.
Protests at the State Capitol
Paxton’s announcement came after a week of tense protests at the state Capitol in Austin over two bills that would ban transition-related care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for minors. The bills would also prohibit public funds from covering the treatments or going to hospitals or health care professionals who provide them. Hundreds of people attended the protests, with some incidents occurring between protesters and police. Capitol police eventually cleared the building, a move that multiple activists said hasn’t happened in the last decade of attending protests and meetings there.
Democrats Delay Debate on Transition-Related Care Ban
Democrats used a procedural tactic known as a “point of order” to delay debate on the transition-related care ban on Tuesday. The bill was brought back up for debate on Friday, but Democrats delayed it a second time by repeatedly raising points of order.