Texas authorities continue finding new ways to harm LGBTQ youth. The eagle-eyed Jo Yurcaba at NBC News found that the state’s Department of Health website quietly removed LGBTQ suicide prevention resources from its website. Instead of listing the phone number, website, and text line for the Trevor Project, as it did at the beginning of February, the website no longer includes any links for LGBTQ youth. When reached by Yurcaba, Trevor Project director of advocacy and government affairs Sam Ames condemned the Texas Department of Health’s decision to remove the Trevor Project from its list of suicide prevention resources on its suicide prevention page. “[Removing the resource] because they are specific to LGBTQ youth is not only offensive and wrong, it’s dangerous,” Ames said.
This isn’t the first time LGBTQ resources have been removed from Texas state government websites. According to NBC News, a resources portal for LGBTQ youth was removed from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website in August. Officials claim the webpage is under review but it has yet to come back online.
Seemingly transphobic Gov. Greg Abbott recently directed the state to investigate any parents of transgender children. Luckily, investigations tied to gender-affirming health care were blocked by a judge.
Indiana is awaiting Gov. Eric Holcomb’s signature on an anti-trans athlete bill that passed the state Senate earlier this week. And Iowa most recently not only enacted an anti-trans athlete law but took measures to see that the discriminatory legislation goes into effect immediately.
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