Thread by @lmcgaughy

Follow me today for coverage of the lawsuit seeking to block CPS investigations of families providing transition care for their trans kids.

I’m also @TexasDFPS this morning for it’s board meeting. Lots of people here.

Background here: dallasnews.com/news/politics/… #txlege #lgbtq

FYI there will be no live stream of this, the first open DFPS meeting since the state began targeting trans care as abuse.

Also there’s no public WiFi in the building so my tweets may be sporadic as I’ll be using my phone.

More background: dallasnews.com/news/politics/… #txlege

There are close to 100 people here (minus press).

The agency will give a bunch of updates on operations, and then the commissioner is scheduled to speak, before public comment will open.

There’s no livestream so follow me for updates. #txlege #lgbtq

The child protective services staff is setting out additional chairs for all the folks come to this meeting today, the first after the state began to investigate gender-affirming care as child abuse.

The board has gaveled in. #txlege #lgbt #lgbtq

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, says Chair Bonnie Hellums. #txlege

The DFPS public hearing room is absolutely full. Folks are here to speak about the state of Texas’ decision to investigate gender-affirming care for trans minors as child abuse. #txlege #lgbt #lgbtq #transgender

Update: @TexasDFPS staff tells 98 people have signed in today at this public hearing.

This is the first opportunity for public comment after @GovAbbott directed the child protective services agency to investigate gender-affirming care for minors as child abuse. #txlege

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott Also an update on those investigations:

The state has opened 9 investigations into reports of minors receiving gender-affirming care. This comes after @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX directed the state to do so.

dallasnews.com/news/politics/… #txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX In other @TexasDFPS news, this also broke yesterday:

"Employees of a Texas-contracted facility meant to care for female foster children who are victims of sex trafficking were discovered to be trafficking the same children."

dallasnews.com/news/politics/… #txlege

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX I'm at the child welfare agency public hearing today. More than 100 are here.

I was expecting the commissioner to speak to the decision to investigate gender-affirming care for trans youth.

But she didn't in her opening remarks. She's not expected to speak again today. #txlege

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX Public testimony begins now.

I am going to have to step out soon because the court hearing on investigations of trans kids is starting soon.

The council chair says they are unable to comment on public testimony. #txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX Many parents of transgender children won't come to a hearing like this, because they don't want to be investigated, to members of public here are reading submitted testimony from families about their trans kids. #txlege #LGBTQ

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX Down the street, in the 201st court, the state of Texas is arguing why child protective services should be allowed to continue investigating families of transgender youth getting medical care.

State's attorney says plaintiffs are “merely fearful” of harm “at this point." #txlege

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX There is a state employee — who's been put on leave and investigated who is suing — because they have a transgender teenager.

@TXAG lawyer says: "All Jane Doe has been subject to is one meeting with an [CPS] investigator." #txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX @TXAG The plaintiffs' attorney says state's order to investigate those allowing kids to get gender-affirming care is "traumatizing families."

"This vast overreach by the defendants established a new presumption of abuse by parents of transgender children." #txlege #LGBTQ

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX @TXAG State of Texas lawyers want judge to consider their arguments on jurisdiction before considering whether to stop alleged abuse investigations statewide.

They also argue an automatic stay is in place until the appeals court mandate issues. #txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX @TXAG Now plaintiffs' attorney is calling witnesses. First up is a child protective services intake supervisor.

She says she is speaking as a private citizen bc she's concerned about the state's decision to investigate trans kids getting gender-affirming care. #txlege

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX @TXAG Plaintiffs' attorney asks what @TexasDFPS supervisor thinks of directive to investigate gender-affirming care for trans youth as abuse.

"It was placing us in a situation that the department should not be in” in private medical decisions between doctors and families." #txlege

@TexasDFPS @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX @TXAG DFPS supervisor says the agency had a meeting with senior leaders on Feb. 24 and were told "that we had to be investigating these cases" of gender-affirming care for trans kids.

She says this represented "unequal treatment" for these cases, prioritizing them over others. #txlege

Spotted up the street @TexasDFPS council meeting is @txlgbtqcaucus co-founder @ErinForYall.

#txlege #lgbt #lgbtq

https://twitter.com/erinforyall/status/1502312794905096192

Wow. In court hearing, CPS supervisor says her boss told her not to put *anything* about cases investigating gender-affirming care for trans kids in emails, texts, etc.

Being told not to put things in writing has never happened before and is "unethical," she says. #txlege

Q: "CPS could be contacting [transgender] students at their schools?"

A: "Yes.”

FWIW CPS investigators already can and do contact students whose families are under investigation for alleged abuse in general. #txlege

This @TexasDFPS supervisor has resigned because of the state's decision to investigate gender-affirming care.

"I have always felt like at the end of the day the department has the children best interests at heart….and I no longer feel this well with this order." #txlege

@TexasDFPS Plaintiffs' attorney tries to admit copy of @dallasnews article (not sure which one) in court.

State objects, saying they "hate to say anything negative" about the DMN, bit it's not a prominent enough to be submitted since it's not an academic or prof journal.

Lol. #txlege

Judge allows @dallasnews to be admitted in court and for supervisor to respond. #txlege

@dallasnews In court, state's attorney says @TexasDFPS agents are required to investigate children allowed or compelled to take controlled substances.

Then attorney mentions that testosterone, used in hormone therapy for trans males, is a controlled substance. #txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS Here's what's happened so far in the court hearing re: Texas investigations of transgender minors getting medical care:

- DFPS supervisor, who's resigned, says she was asked not to document these investigations.
- Same supervisor says they *must* investigate these cases. #txlege

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS - State says testosterone is controlled substance, which under state's abuse law can't be given to kids.
- Plaintiffs' lawyer says families are being traumatized over this order.

Judge could decide to stop investigations statewide after this hearing.

#txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ #Trans

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS Court is taking 15 minute break. I'm headed back into @TexasDFPS hearing. #txlege

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS Back in @TexasDFPS public hearing, people are reading testimony from parents of transgender children who say they are too afraid of getting investigated to come speak here themselves.

#txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS Karli Kucko, a mental health professional in Austin, speaks @TexasDFPS council meeting.

She also says: "I will never alter my ethical and evidence based practices, which overwhelming support gender affirming care, to be a political pawn.” #txlege #LGBTQ #transgender

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS Tyler Sheldon from @CWA6186, union which represents CPS workers, says the state's order makes child welfare agents go against their ethical, moral and professional standards. #txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS @CWA6186 "There are so many things that the governor and DFPS should be focused on without targeting trans kids and their families to score political points," Tyler Sheldon from CPS union tells @TexasDFPS council.

#txlege

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS @CWA6186 Woman reads letter from 8-year-old transgender kid @TexasDFPS council meeting:

"It wasn’t until last year that I worried about what not being treated the same as others.

And just last week, I found out what a lawyer is and what CPS is...” #txlege

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS @CWA6186 "I don't want to move.

I love my mom and dad more than anyone but my brother. They're doing everything they can to keep me safe.” #txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ #transgender #trans

@dallasnews @TexasDFPS @CWA6186 Stepping out of the @TexasDFPS council meeting to tune back in to state's hearing on attempt to block investigations into gender-affirming care for trans minors.

#txlege

Who should you follow for coverage on Texas transgender kids and families?

@eklib
@taygoldenstein
@maringwolf
@i_oriion
@shoeleatherkate

Please suggest others.

#txlege #LGBT #LGBTQ

I’m at the court now watching the hearing on the court’s investigation against a state worker and her trans daughter.

We’re on break until 1:55p.

Background: dallasnews.com/news/politics/… #txlege #lgbt