Pardon the Interruption
Texas has been governed by Republicans on all levels of government for the past two decades -- Representative Pete Laney was the last Democrat to hold Speaker of the House in 2003. Since then, laws and policies have been written with conservative ideologies.
As a Texan, I align myself to libertarian ideas of limited government, economic liberty, and individual rights. However, the recent blatant attack on transgender individuals by the state's leadership and makes me question as to whether our state needs change.
Rather than prioritizing crucial matters such as common-sense gun control and other important issues, the conservative state legislature yet again focused on transgenders and limiting their rights.
The legislature passed, SB 14, restricting transgender access to health care, which not only affects those under the age of 18, but also affects adults. Case in point, my transgender daughter, who is an adult, received a call from her provider indicating they were no longer providing gender-affirming care. This followed the state's Attorney General Ken Paxton initiating an investigation to one of Texas' largest hospitals.
So now, my daughter will have to seek gender-affirming care elsewhere, pay out of pocket, perhaps shop the black market for unregulated hormone replacement therapy. This is absolutely concerning to her mother and me.
What's disheartening is that May 24th was the 1-year anniversary of the tragic event that occurred in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman shot and killed 19 elementary students and two teachers with an AR rifle purchased on his 18th birthday. Rather than debate the issue, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, prevented any discussion of gun control brought up by the senator from Uvalde. Watch this
video of Senator Gutierrez' passionate speech after he was silenced for suggesting an amendment on gun control.
Strategically, following the tragedy, Governor Greg Abbott made sure to remove all blame from himself and the leadership and placed any future tragedies on the school itself. In other words, the reason this issue is not being addressed is because the leadership is gambling on our kids lives. If it happens again, god-forbid, they are not to blame.
The Texas Legislature should have prioritized a balanced agenda that respects the rights of all individuals and promotes the principles of liberty, individual responsibility, and limited government interference.
Scott Stantis (Dallas Morning News)
