Federal judge puts temporary stop on Texas AG Ken Paxton's demand for information on families with transgender kids

Texas AG Ken Paxton

A judge ruled on Friday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive information on Texas families with transgender kids. At least for now.

From The Advocate

A judge has temporarily blocked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s demand for information on PFLAG National’s work on behalf of Texas families with transgender children seeking gender-affirming medical care. Paxton, an intensely anti-LGBTQ+ Republican, issued a demand in early February for the organization to turn over documents, communications, and other information related to its work with these families. 

This would include the names and addresses of trans youth members. PFLAG National is a plaintiff in two lawsuits filed against Texas’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for trans youth — its ban on this care and an order from Gov. Greg Abbott that families allowing their children to undergo it be investigated for child abuse. Responding to the latest demand, PFLAG National filed a new lawsuit against Paxton’s office and sought a temporary restraining order to keep him from obtaining the information. Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel granted the order Friday. 

 According to the HuffPost: 

The ACLU, which is representing FPLAG in court, said it will seek a permanent block on Paxton’s demand “so that PFLAG can continue supporting its Texas members with transgender youth in doing what all loving parents do: supporting and caring for their children.” 

 This isn't the first time Paxton, who by the way has been the subject of intense legal trouble due to other issues, has targeted the trans community and healthcare providers of gender-affirming care. Twice he has made demands for information from transgender healthcare providers in other states. One demand led a lawsuit by a Seattle hospital filed last year. In 2022, a federal judge blocked his office from investigating the families of trans youth in Texas. During that same time, it was pointed out by various experts and researchers that Paxton was relying on inaccurate data and distorted research to justify his investigation.