ACA Opposes TX Definition of Child Abuse to Include Gender-Affirming Care

The American Counseling Association (ACA) stands in solidarity with the Texas Counseling Association in opposition to any attempt to redefine “child abuse” to include gender-affirming care, as referenced in the Texas Attorney General’s non-binding opinion and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s letter directing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate such accusations. Prevent Child Abuse America has issued a statement condemning the Texas Attorney General’s opinion as well.   

All major medical and mental health associations recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as a part of human growth and development. These targeted legislative efforts are dangerous to the health and well-being of non-binary and transgender youth, as they are at risk for a significant increase in suicidal behavior, anxiety and depression, homelessness, substance abuse, etc.?Children need to be able to trust their parents, families, and counselors and not live in fear of having those persons prosecuted for helping them. 

Counseling is based on trust and confidentiality, and factors such as recognizing the autonomy of the client -- including minors -- as well as?acceptance of the client for who they are, are central to ethical practice. 

“This horrendous act to politicize the healthcare of transgender youth and criminalize their parents, medical experts, and mental health professionals, is unconscionable,” said Richard Yep, ACA CEO.  “What is happening in Texas is not isolated. We are monitoring and seeing more than three times the number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills around the country, aimed largely at kids and families. The evidence is mounting that these efforts are coordinated. A federal solution such as “The Equality Act” is long overdue.”  

ACA has partnered with the Human Rights Campaign in recent years to support passage of this landmark legislation, which would extend full federal civil rights protections to the LGBTQ+ community, making discrimination, such as what is happening in Texas, a federal crime.