Texas Removes LGBTQ Youth Suicide Hotline After Primary Challenger Goads Abbott

October 15, 2021 by Reece Nations
Texas Removes LGBTQ Youth Suicide Hotline After Primary Challenger Goads Abbott

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has taken down a webpage that offered resources to LGBTQ youth after criticism was leveled at Gov. Greg Abbott by a primary challenger for its inclusion.

Former Texas state Sen. Don Huffines, who announced his candidacy for governor in May, issued a rebuke of the resource page on Aug. 31 while admonishing Abbott. As of this week, the resource page was replaced with one that reads “The Texas Youth Connection 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.”

“Gov. Abbott’s political appointees who are running the Department of Family and Protective Services have put out and have on their website some very disturbing information,” Huffines said in a video statement. “They are promoting transgender sexual policies… to Texas youth.”

Huffines continued, “This is Texas. These are not Texas values. These are not Republican Party values. But these are obviously Greg Abbott’s values. That’s why we need a change. That’s what my campaign is about.”

Abbott’s duties as governor authorize him to appoint the DFPS commissioner and council to establish the agency’s policies. Internal emails from DFPS officials obtained by The Houston Chronicle show the agency was aware of Huffines’ statement.

The Trevor Project, the nonprofit organization that operates the LGBTQ youth suicide hotline, reported a 150% increase in calls from transgender youth in Texas since the state legislature took up agenda items targeting transgender youth this year, according to LGBTQ Nation.

In a May survey of LGBTQ youth with a history of foster care, The Trevor Project reported 45% of respondents who attended a school that was not LGBTQ-affirming attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 26% of respondents who had attended an LGBTQ-affirming school. Further, LGBTQ youth who had reported being in foster care had three times greater odds of reporting a suicide attempt in the past year in comparison to those who had not.

The Texas legislature failed earlier this year to pass legislation that would have instituted extensive bans on transition-related medical care for transgender youth including gender-affirming care. However, on Thursday the Texas House successfully passed legislation that would prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports teams aligned with their gender identity.

“Extremists in our Legislature have continuously leveraged cruel rhetoric and rampant misinformation to coordinate this attack on the transgender community — young children in particular — and have sent a clear message that Texas is not a safe place for them to live,” Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, said in a written statement on the bill’s passage.

Martinez continued, “Throughout four traumatizing legislative sessions, we’ve seen increased requests for help from families facing anti-LGBTQ+ threats as a result of this hostile climate. The ‘debate’ over this anti-transgender bill is already exacerbating intolerance, fueling discrimination, and solidifying Texas’ reputation as the leading state for violence against trans people.”

A+
a-
  • Greg Abbott
  • Suicide hotline
  • Texas
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Mental Health

    March 13, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Researchers Identify Brain Connections Associated with ADHD

    WASHINGTON — After examining more than 8,000 functional brain images of young people with ADHD, researchers have discovered their systems... Read More

    WASHINGTON — After examining more than 8,000 functional brain images of young people with ADHD, researchers have discovered their systems are tied to atypical interactions between the brain’s frontal cortex and the information processing centers deep inside the brain. The research into attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was conducted... Read More

    March 12, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Report Underscores Impact of Pets on Sense of Community, Well-Being

    WASHINGTON — Nine in 10 pet owners say their pets contribute to their having a stronger sense of community, while... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Nine in 10 pet owners say their pets contribute to their having a stronger sense of community, while 83% of adults say they’ve interacted with people they otherwise would not have due to their pets, according to a new survey. The study by Mars... Read More

    How Springing Forward to Daylight Saving Time Could Affect Your Health — and How to Prepare

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Most of America “springs forward” Sunday for daylight saving time and losing that hour of sleep can do more... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Most of America “springs forward” Sunday for daylight saving time and losing that hour of sleep can do more than leave you tired and cranky the next day. It also could harm your health. Darker mornings and more evening light together knock your body clock... Read More

    February 28, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Hutchinson Raises Awareness of Child Abuse Every Chance She Gets

    DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was still days away from a disappointing sixth place finish in... Read More

    DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was still days away from a disappointing sixth place finish in the Iowa caucuses as he and his wife Susan made their way through the caucus media center inside the cavernous Iowa Events Center. Stopping to chat... Read More

    February 26, 2024
    by Jesse Zucker
    Try Heat Therapy to Warm Up This Winter

    WASHINGTON —  As we near the end of February, have you gotten tired of being cold yet? While you wait... Read More

    WASHINGTON —  As we near the end of February, have you gotten tired of being cold yet? While you wait for spring, heat therapy may be just what you need to warm up. If you’ve ever been to a sauna or steam room at a spa... Read More

    February 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Study Finds More Than 40% of Americans Know Someone Who Died by Overdose

    SANTA MONICA. Calif. — More than 40% of Americans have known someone who died of a drug overdose, and about... Read More

    SANTA MONICA. Calif. — More than 40% of Americans have known someone who died of a drug overdose, and about one-third of those individuals say the death disrupted their lives, according to a new study by the Rand Corporation. Researchers with the nonprofit think tank and... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top