When Texas Went After Transgender Care, Part 1

<p>In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of younger Americans who identify as transgender and are seeking medical intervention to support their transition. </p><p>This increase has coincided with laws introduced in Republican State Houses across the country that seek to block trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care. Nowhere is the political battle more polarized and heated than in Texas. </p><p>In the first of two episodes on the situation in Texas, we explore the story of one family seeking such care for their son when the political storm hit. </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/azeen-ghorayshi?smid=pc-thedaily">Azeen Ghorayshi</a>, a reporter covering the intersection between sex, gender and science for The New York Times. </p><p>Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>A Texas clinic for transgender adolescents closed last year amid political pressure. Its demise is evidence of how treating trans minors has become a<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/08/health/texas-transgender-clinic-genecis-abbott.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> contentious issue in Republican-controlled states</a>.</li><li>Texas officials have begun<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/us/texas-child-abuse-trans-youth.html"> investigating parents of transgender adolescents</a> for possible child abuse, according to a recent lawsuit. </li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>