Democratic lawmakers in the Texas state House successfully delayed debate on a gender bill on Tuesday after LGBT protesters disrupted the proceedings from the House gallery.
Proceedings on Senate Bill 14 were disrupted after protesters against the bill broke out in chants, leading to Texas GOP House Speaker Dade Phelan clearing the House gallery after Democrats introduced a point of order to kill the bill on a technicality.
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The bill, which would ban certain medical procedures for transgender minors, was sent back to the House Public Health Committee to be fixed and then was quickly voted back to the House floor later on Tuesday. The Texas House is set to consider the bill again later this week, according to state GOP Rep. Dustin Burrows, chairman of the House Calendars Committee.
Outside the House gallery protesters are still chanting, while DPS forcibly detain at least one additional protester pic.twitter.com/jm3ZJBjGH2
— Niki Griswold (@nikigriswold) May 2, 2023
The protesters could be heard chanting, “Trans rights are human rights,” and “What do we want? Trans rights! When do we want it? Now!” as they were escorted from the gallery.
The protests resulted in at least one arrest by the state Department of Public Safety after a brief altercation occurred outside the chambers, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Parents of transgender children and LGBT activists spent hours outside the Texas Capitol on Tuesday to protest the bill.
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Senate Bill 14 would prohibit transgender youth from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapy, according to the Texas Tribune. Those already using the treatments would need to be “weaned off” them in a safe manner if the bill passes.
The bill is considered a priority for the state Republican Party, which opposes “all efforts to validate transgender identity,” according to the party’s platform. The bill has already passed the state Senate and is expected to pass the House.
