I'm a primary care internist in Austin, Texas and have provided gender-affirming care for adults as part of my practice for eight years. I'm also the sister of a transgender man who suffered greatly before he transitioned. Growing up, I witnessed first-hand how gender-affirming care can save lives. But in Texas and other states, those lives are now being threatened by the very institutions that are supposed to protect them.
On March 11, instead of seeing patients in clinic, I sat in the back of a large auditorium at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and listened to stories of trauma for hours. Each story started with the same phrase: "My name is —, and I'm here to read a statement from the family of a transgender child who is too terrified to be here." One by one, community members stepped up to read statements to DFPS council members from transgender kids and their families submitted from across the state. Brave family members and transgender youth also stood up to speak themselves, despite the extremely personal nature of their testimony and the great personal risk.
