Persyn Law & Policy is proud to represent the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and a group of fellow child advocacy organizations as amicus curiae in Doe v. Abbott, the Texas state litigation on gender-affirming care for minors. Rafael Langer-Osuna of Squire Patton Boggs is co-counsel.

In February 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton published an opinion characterizing gender-affirming care as child abuse. Governor Greg Abbott then wrote a letter to Jaime Masters, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services, directing investigation of all instances of pediatric gender-affirming care as child abuse. The letter threatened all mandatory reporters in the state with penalties if they failed to report such care. Read the directive and opinion here.

Gender-affirming care is not child abuse. In fact, it is the opposite. Parents who facilitate this care for their children, in close collaboration with the child’s medical team, are providing lifesaving care that has been repeatedly upheld in guidance documents and standards of care worldwide.

APSAC and fellow amici have filed amicus briefs at four different stages of litigation, and we will continue to stand by the plaintiffs for as long as it takes. Read our brief for the Texas Supreme Court here and stay tuned for further updates.