The state representative says Democrats will continue to try to delay the controversial transgender bill
Rep. Gene Wu says if the GOP really wants to protect children, it would support gun safety legislation.
TEXAS, USA – As Austin lawmakers continue to wrangle over legislation that would ban transgender children from receiving any kind of transition medical care, one of the Democrats working hard to delay Republican-backed legislation has joined Inside Texas Politics to explain why.
“The really frustrating part is that proponents of this legislation say, ‘Oh, we’re protecting the kids.’ But the problem is that the children themselves, their family members, their doctors have come and said, ‘We don’t want your protection, we don’t need your protection, and the protection you’re offering us actually hurts us.'” said Representative Gene Wu.
Under the bill, children already using medical aids such as puberty blockers should be “weaned off”.
Wu says Democrats are working hard to grandfather all those children so they don’t have to stop treatment.
But the Houston Democrat doesn’t think any of these amendments will pass.
Democrats have managed to delay the bill at least twice, though, on a technicality.
And during the previous House debate, Speaker Dade Phelan cleared the House rostrum after opponents of the bill continued to disrupt the debate. State police physically removed some people from the Capitol.
Republicans have argued that the legislation protects Texas children and their families. It’s a legislative priority for the party, so it should still pass.
Wu says if the GOP is so interested in keeping children safe, it would pass gun safety legislation, such as raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm.
“The opposition is not willing to even pass a single gun-related bill that would actually make children safer, without even considering,” Wu said. “But they’re using this, they’re using this saying ‘Oh, we’re going to protect the kids.'”
