VIDEO: Parents of trans kids fear Texas' anti-trans orders

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Abbott's order stokes fear among trans parents, youth
While the order is aimed at gender-affirming medical procedures and wouldn't directly apply to transgender children who have not started gender-affirming care, some worry any transgender kid in Texas could become a target.

"Greg Abbott basically just told closeted trans children that if they come out, his state government is going to take them away from their affirming parents," tweeted Charlotte Clymer, a former Human Rights Campaign press secretary.

Like many transgender Texans and their families who have taken to social media in recent days to express fear, frustration and confusion with Abbott's order, Landon Richie said he's worried about the potential for immediate consequences.

"Are people going to try and report my family? Are families going to be targeted because of this? Really it’s just a lot of fear and uncertainty," said Richie, age 19, who is a sophomore at the University of Houston and board member for GenderCool, a youth movement raising awareness and fostering acceptance for transgender youth.

"I am angry and I’ve taken that anger to the polls," said Richie, who said he voted early this month, placing a vote against Gov. Abbott in Texas' primary election. "... Really just the bottom line is trans youth shouldn’t have to be debating their rights like this – nobody should have to be dividing their rights like this."

Both Abbott and Paxton are up for reelection this year, and their actions came a week before they are on the ballot for Republican voters in Texas’ first-in-the-nation primary of 2022."...