AUSTIN — A Texas judge on Friday temporarily blocked state Attorney General Ken Paxton from forcing an LGBTQ+ advocacy group to submit information about transgender children receiving gender-affirming medical care. .
The ruling came just one day after PFLAG National went to court to try to block Paxton’s office from obtaining the information.
Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantu Hexel said in her order that the information provided harmed PFLAG and its members in a number of ways, including violating their rights to free speech, association, and protection from unreasonable search. He said he would give it. Furthermore, the judge said it would be a “serious invasion” of privacy.
A hearing was scheduled for March 25 to give the attorney general’s office an opportunity to argue why Friday’s order should not continue.
The series of lawsuits comes after PFLAG CEO Brian Bond filed a lawsuit last year saying members were making contingency plans after the state banned gender-affirming care for minors. The case stems from a February request by Paxton’s office for “documents and communications” regarding the statement. .
Paxton’s office said in a statement Thursday that this information is highly relevant to the investigation into whether health care providers are committing insurance fraud to circumvent the ban.
The ACLU, which is representing FPLAG in court, said: “PFLAG continues to support its members in Texas with transgender youth, helping them do what any loving parent would do: support and care for their children. “We are seeking a permanent injunction against Mr. Paxton’s request.”
PFLAG and the state of Texas have fought in court before, including in 2022, when the state adopted a policy to investigate cases of gender-affirming care for children as child abuse cases.
