Austin, TX, Release: April 12, 2021 For Immediate Release
Below is Chairman West’s testimony to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, where he argues in support of SB 1646 and SB 1311. Chairman West stands completely against the chemical castration, hormone treatment, and genital surgery being done to children across the Lone Star State. Adults may choose to live their lives freely, but the Texas GOP will not allow children to suffer medical abuses that will harm them for the rest of their life.
Chairman West’s Testimony:
“Greetings Chairman Hughes and members of the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee. I am writing to you today in support of legislation SB 1646 and SB 1311 relating to the issue of child gender modification.
Ladies and gentlemen, one of the eight Legislative Priorities of the Republican Party of Texas is to end the practice of child gender modification in the State of Texas. This is a topic several other states, namely Alabama and Arkansas, have recently tackled in their effort to protect our children.
First, let’s ensure we are using the proper language based upon science and not popular culture, nor the lexicon of the progressive socialist left. We are talking about a mental condition called gender dysphoria, as described by the American Psychiatric Association. The culture today likes to create language that makes this issue more acceptable, palatable, transgenderism.
It is imperative to assert that what a legally recognized adult seeks to do with their body is not the issue here. What we are concerned with are the hormonal therapies, puberty blockers, and genitalia surgeries being conducted on children, in some cases as early as eight years of age. The American Psychiatric Association has gone so far as to classify this very disconcerting practice as child abuse. This is not something we should be allowing, or tolerating, in the Lone Star State.
Needless to say, there are very coercive and intimidating efforts from the LGBTQ+ community, but one has to ask: do they not care about the mental health of our children? Do they not care about the physical well-being and normal progression of growth for our children? When did society start to introduce this confusion into the minds of our children?
Today, our children face enough challenges, namely, living in a state, Texas, that is the number one state for human and sex trafficking. Our children are being bombarded with imagery, messages, and narratives that are causing what could be irreparable harm. Just look at the issue today in our Leander ISD.
I call upon the members of this committee to vote to protect our children. I call upon the members of this committee to side with the health of our children and not concern themselves with the societal or culturally accepted norms or practices. I call upon this committee to unanimously vote this legislation out of committee for a vote on the floor. Think about your own childhood. This was not an issue, challenge, that you had to face. It is vital that we protect our children and stop the practice of child gender modification in the state of Texas. To do so only takes your courage. Failure to do so will echo throughout future generations.“
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