The state of Texas removed a web page offering resources to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth after one of the Republican primary challengers to Governor Greg Abbott said its content was “offensive” and “Texas”. values” did not match.
The expulsion came shortly after candidate Don Huffins denounced the website. in a video Which he shared on Twitter.
“They are promoting transgender sex policies for Texas youth,” Huffins said. “Really? This is Texas. These are not Texas values. These are not Republican Party values. But they are clearly Greg Abbott’s values.”
Patrick Crimins, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, said the page was removed from the department’s website six weeks ago “as part of a review.”
But this week the decision to disable the page received widespread attention. After the Houston Chronicle The internal agency reported on email, which showed officials were concerned by Mr Huffins’ comments.
Mr. Huffins, a former state senator from Dallas and owner of a real estate development company, announced in May That he would challenge Abbott in the Republican primary next March and has projected himself as the more conservative candidate. Mr. Abbott is seeking a third term.
“FYI. It’s starting to erupt on Twitter,” wrote a department official, Marisa Gonzales, on the day Mr Huffins posted the video, according to copies of emails provided by the agency to The New York Times.
Agency spokeswoman Ms. Gonzales said in an email that Mr. Huffins was referring to a web page for a program called Texas Youth Connection. This page provides online resources for children and adolescents in state care, and had a section called “Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.”
“Please note that we may have to take that page down, or modify the content in some way,” Mr Crimmins wrote to agency officials.
On September 1, the agency’s communications manager sent an email to the webmaster stating that “the Texas Youth Connection (TYC) website has been temporarily disabled for a comprehensive review of its content.”
“This is being done to ensure that its information, resources and referrals are current,” the email said.
Mr Abbott’s office did not respond to messages for comment.
The page was taken down less than a month ago Parents of transgender children protest At the Texas Capitol in Austin, where the state Senate has repeatedly passed bills requiring transgender teens and child athletes to compete according to their gender at birth rather than their gender identity.
Decision to close web page Angry LGBTQ rights activist And organizations, who accused Mr Abbott of prioritizing his political interests over the safety and well-being of marginalized youth.
Ricardo Martínez, chief executive officer of Equality Texas, a rights group, said in a statement, “State agencies are aware that LGBTQ+ children are over-represented in foster care and are aware that they are facing truly staggering discrimination. and face abuse.” “The state is responsible for the lives of these children, yet it actively took away a resource for them when they were in distress.”
Mr Martinez said the site was taken down at the start of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. he quoted Trevor Project stats, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, showed that gay, transgender and non-binary youth who have been in foster care were more likely to attempt suicide.
“Over and over again this year,” he said, “all we are saying is not to politicize the lives of these children.”
Before it was removed, the Texas Youth Connection page provided contact information for organizations and hotlines that could help LGBTQ youth who were feeling depressed, threatened or suicidal, according to screenshots of the pages provided by the agency. . The section on “Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation” was three pages long and included a picture of smiling youth holding a rainbow flag.
“Educational and support resources on this page to help empower and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, collaborative and non-heterosexual (LGBTQIA+) youth, their peers and family are dedicated,” the site said. “It is important to have support and resources in meeting the needs of youth and young adults.”
Department of Family and Protective Services on Thursday Still had a link to the 2019 webinar Which discussed how inequalities in child welfare systems affected LGBTQ youth and children of color.