Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, and the Executive Team at MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the appalling attacks on LGBTQ+ youth in Texas, Florida and elsewhere:
“America’s moms are horrified that Texas Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Paxton directed the state child welfare agency to treat and investigate standard medical care for transgender children as child abuse. It is not – and the cruelty and political calculation behind this move, and the harm it will cause, are horrifying.
“Transgender youth are at high risk for bullying and violence, and experience high rates of homelessness, depression and suicide. We should applaud the medical professionals and others who support them, not report them for abuse or require teachers to turn in loving parents who connect their children to medical care.
“Similarly, Florida’s shameful Don’t Say Gay bill and Stop WOKE Act would stigmatize many youth while attempting to censor speech in classrooms and erase people’s identities and history. Other states have passed or are considering bills that target LGBTQ+ children and youth in many ways. It must stop.
“Moms want the callous, cruel, and ill-intentioned politicians pushing these dangerous and destructive measures to stop playing politics with the health and well-being of our kids. Measures like those in Texas, Florida and elsewhere that deny medical care, ban books, prohibit speech, and erase parts of our community and history cause both immediate and long-term harm. Our children need medical care. They need supportive, nurturing adults. And they need to learn about all of our history so they can become well-informed, independent thinkers. We should work together to give children and youth the information and support they need, rather than fomenting conflict, division, ignorance and pain.”
“America’s moms are horrified that Texas Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Paxton directed the state child welfare agency to treat and investigate standard medical care for transgender children as child abuse. It is not – and the cruelty and political calculation behind this move, and the harm it will cause, are horrifying.
“Transgender youth are at high risk for bullying and violence, and experience high rates of homelessness, depression and suicide. We should applaud the medical professionals and others who support them, not report them for abuse or require teachers to turn in loving parents who connect their children to medical care.
“Similarly, Florida’s shameful Don’t Say Gay bill and Stop WOKE Act would stigmatize many youth while attempting to censor speech in classrooms and erase people’s identities and history. Other states have passed or are considering bills that target LGBTQ+ children and youth in many ways. It must stop.
“Moms want the callous, cruel, and ill-intentioned politicians pushing these dangerous and destructive measures to stop playing politics with the health and well-being of our kids. Measures like those in Texas, Florida and elsewhere that deny medical care, ban books, prohibit speech, and erase parts of our community and history cause both immediate and long-term harm. Our children need medical care. They need supportive, nurturing adults. And they need to learn about all of our history so they can become well-informed, independent thinkers. We should work together to give children and youth the information and support they need, rather than fomenting conflict, division, ignorance and pain.”
