Texas

In Texas, transgender official says science is being ‘politically perverted’ to attack LGBT people

Published

3 years ago

May 1, 2022

In Texas, transgender official says science is being ‘politically perverted’ to attack LGBT people

FORT WORTH — The nation’s prime transgender official got here to Texas this weekend to name out what she known as the political perversion of medication and science and urge medical doctors to face up towards assaults on LGBT Individuals’ entry to well being care.

“The reality we have to confront now’s that medication and science are being politically perverted across the nation in ways in which destroy human lives,” Dr. Rachel Levine, the U.S. assistant secretary for well being, mentioned Saturday at a convention on LGBTQ well being care hosted by college students at Texas Christian College College of Medication in Fort Price.

“We’ve reached a tipping level for the position of medication in civic life for the well being and effectively being of LGBTQIA+ Individuals and that’s the reason I’m right here at the moment,” she mentioned.

Levine was scheduled to talk just about to the Out for Well being Convention, an annual discussion board organized for and by medical college students and hosted annually by a special Texas college. However as extra states search to restrict this care, with a selected goal on gender affirming medical therapy for trans youth, Levine mentioned she as a substitute selected to seem in particular person.

Clad within the uniform that denotes her position as admiral and head of the Public Well being Service Commissioned Corps, Levine mentioned physicians have to embrace their roles as affected person advocates.

“I wish to level out — this can be a essential level — that if you happen to’re an LGBTQIA+ baby, adolescent or teenager having psychological well being challenges, the distinction between life and demise is usually a single caring grownup,” Levine, who makes a speciality of pediatric and adolescent care, instructed the convention attendees.

In February, Texas Lawyer Common Ken Paxton issued a nonbinding opinion classifying sure medical therapies resembling puberty blockers and hormone remedy as baby abuse. Gov. Greg Abbott then directed the state’s baby welfare company to research the mother and father of trans minors reportedly receiving this care.

At the least 9 such investigations had been opened, however they’re on maintain whereas the coverage is litigated.

Levine mentioned the federal authorities is watching what occurs with the lawsuit filed by a Houston physician and the household of a trans teen who’re difficult Abbott’s directive. The Justice Division on Friday challenged a brand new Alabama legislation that makes it a felony to offer sure gender affirming care to transgender minors.

Admiral Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for well being for the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies, after delivering a speech at Texas Christian College in Fort Price on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Juan Figueroa / Workers Photographer)

With out calling out any politicians by title, Levine mentioned those that push to restrict transgender youth’s entry to therapies like these are rejecting “effectively established” medical practices for “slander, bigotry and gender baiting hate speech.”

“Those that assault our LGBTQIA+ group are pushed by an agenda that has nothing to do with medication. It has nothing to do with science. It has nothing to do definitely with heat, empathy, compassion and understanding,” Levine mentioned. “We’ve to take a stand on behalf of those that are being damage.”

“Gender affirming care is medical care. Gender affirming care is psychological well being care. Gender affirming care is suicide prevention care,” she added, citing a research revealed in February that confirmed that after a 12 months of this care the percentages of suicidality had been lowered by 73% in a gaggle of 13 to twenty 12 months previous trans and nonbinary sufferers.

A 2021 survey by the Trevor Mission discovered that 42% of LGBTQ youth, and greater than half of those that recognized as trans or nonbinary, had thought-about suicide within the earlier 12 months. Final 12 months, after stress from GOP politicians, the state’s well being division eliminated hyperlinks to the Trevor Mission’s suicide prevention hotline from its web sites.

In an interview with The Dallas Morning Information after her speech, Levine mentioned she met with transgender youngsters and their mother and father whereas in Texas.

“We see them and we assist them,” Levine mentioned.

“The phrase I used once I spoke with the households is that it’s a really insidious strategy to deal with this problem,” Levine mentioned. “It’s turning the kid protecting company, which is meant to guard youngsters and households, to assault youngsters and households for political functions.”

She urged anybody who believes they had been denied well being care as a consequence of their sexual orientation of gender id to contact the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies Workplace for Civil Rights to lodge a grievance.

When requested if any Texans have filed complaints because the state focused gender affirming care in February, the civil rights workplace mentioned it doesn’t touch upon “open or potential investigations.”

Levine additionally provided to talk to Abbott or every other elected official concerning the problem at any time. Neither the governor nor Paxton responded to requests for remark about her remarks.

Levine brushed apart questions on assaults on her personal id, together with these Paxton lobbed at her on Twitter simply months in the past. As a well being skilled, she mentioned she has realized the best way to correctly compartmentalize and channel her feelings into her advocacy however worries what message these assaults ship to different transgender folks.

“I don’t fear about me,” she mentioned. “I fear about them.”

Whereas Levine mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic has ramped up the politicization of medication and science, she stays optimistic that this most up-to-date wave of unfavorable consideration on the transgender group will ultimately diminish. That is an election 12 months in any case, she added.

“I don’t understand how lengthy it’ll final,” Levine mentioned. “However I don’t suppose that that can proceed without end.”

Editor’s Notice: The Nationwide Suicide Prevention Hotline gives 24/7 free and confidential assist for folks in misery and their family members at 1-800-273-8255.

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Texas

TCU Volleyball Dominates Texas Tech on Senior Night

Published

2 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

TCU Volleyball Dominates Texas Tech on Senior Night

A common theme for No. 22 TCU has been their complete dominance on their home floor this season. The Horned Frogs finished the year 14-1 at Schollmaier Arena. On Friday night, in front of over 3,000 fans, TCU swept Texas Tech (25-14, 26-24, 25-11).

The four seniors honored by TCU were Melanie Parra, Cecily Bramschreiber, Stephanie Young and Ashlyn Bourland. All four players found ways to contribute as Parra finished with 14 kills and seven digs. Bramschreiber filled up the stat sheet with four kills, four aces and seven digs. Both Young and Bourland got an ace.

Both teams traded points in the early going, but Bramschreiber sparked a 7-2 run to give the Frogs a 16-9 lead. TCU hit .417 in the first set and dominated the first set capped off by a Becca Kelley ace.

In set two, Texas Tech made things much closer jumping out to a 8-5 lead. A 4-0 run from TCU put them back in front. This set included multiple runs and it was Tech that got it to set point leading 24-22. TCU was able to end the set on a 4-0 run courtesy of kills from Jalyn Gibson and Parra paired with aces from Bramschreiber.

Trying to keeps things alive, TCU wasn’t met with much resistance from the Red Raiders in the third set. The Frogs kept up the pressure with multiple runs to build a massive 17-8 lead. Bourland picked up her first career ace and an attack error ended things.

It was a fun night for the seniors that played in front of the TCU crowd for the last time. The 14 wins at home tied the school record for most wins at home in a single season. They also picked up the most wins in a season since 2015. What Jason Williams has done for this program in such a short time has been remarkable to watch.

The Frogs move to 19-7 overall 11-5 in conference. They still are fifth in the Big 12 standings with two games to go. They will travel to Morgantown on Wednesday to take on West Virginia at 6 p.m. and then to Cincinnati on Friday at 1 p.m.

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Texas

Texas AG sues Dallas for decriminalizing marijuana

Published

10 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Texas AG sues Dallas for decriminalizing marijuana

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a lawsuit Thursday targeting the blue city of Dallas over a ballot measure that decriminalizes marijuana.

Paxton alleges that Proposition R, which “prohibits the Dallas Police Department from making arrests or issuing citations for marijuana possession or considering the odor of marijuana as probable cause for search or seizure,” violates state law.

The attorney general argues in the lawsuit that the ballot measure is preempted by Texas law, which criminalizes the possession and distribution of marijuana. Paxton also claims the Texas Constitution prohibits municipalities from adopting an ordinance that conflicts with laws enacted by the state legislature.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks outside the U.S. Supreme Court on November 01, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

“Cities cannot pick and choose which State laws they follow,” Paxton said in a statement. “The City of Dallas has no authority to override Texas drug laws or prohibit the police from enforcing them.”

Paxton called the ballot measure “a backdoor attempt to violate the Texas Constitution” and threatened to sue any other city that “tries to constrain police in this fashion.”

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A flower bud of marijuana. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

The lawsuit comes after interim Dallas Police Department Chief Michael Igo directed Dallas police officers not to enforce marijuana laws against those found to be in possession of less than 4 ounces.

Ground Game Texas, a progressive nonprofit group that campaigned in favor of the ballot measure, argued it would help “keep people out of jail for marijuana possession,” “reduce racially biased policing” and “save millions in public funding.”

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A mature marijuana plant begins to bloom under artificial lights at Loving Kindness Farms in Gardena, Calif., May 20, 2019. Paxton has sued the city of Dallas over a ballot measure that decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

“It’s unfortunate but not surprising that Attorney General Ken Paxton has apparently chosen to waste everyone’s time and money by filing yet another baseless lawsuit against marijuana decriminalization,” said Catina Voellinger, executive director for Ground Game Texas.

“Judges in Travis and Hays counties have already dismissed identical lawsuits filed there. The Dallas Freedom Act was overwhelmingly approved by 67% of voters — this is democracy in action.”

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Since January 2024, Paxton has filed lawsuits against five Texas cities that decriminalized marijuana possession, arguing these policies promote crime, drug abuse and violence.

Chris Pandolfo is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. Send tips to chris.pandolfo@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @ChrisCPandolfo.

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Texas

Tre Johnson, Texas Longhorns Scrape Past Saint Joseph’s to Win Legends Classic

Published

19 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Tre Johnson, Texas Longhorns Scrape Past Saint Joseph’s to Win Legends Classic

The Texas Longhorns are heading back to Austin with some early-season tournament hardware in hand.

Tre Johnson battled through another poor shooting night but closed the game out for Texas once again, scoring a game-high 17 points to lead the Longhorns to a 67-58 win over Saint Joseph’s at the Legends Classic championship round in Brooklyn Friday night.

Transfer guard Julian Larry sparked the Longhorns late, scoring all 12 of his points in the second half. Arthur Kaluma added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists while Kadin Shedrick had 10 points and six rebounds.

The Hawks were led by Rasheer Fleming, who stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three steals. Xzayvier Brown added 15 points on 4 of 7 shooting.

The Longhorns jumped out to an 11-6 lead after seven early points from Kaluma. St. Joe’s started out cold from the field but controlled the game with hard-nosed defense and the occasional press while dominating the offensive glass. This was highlighted by a possession where the Hawks got four consecutive offensive rebounds but only scored one point as a result.

Johnson stayed aggressive on offense for Texas but was off on his shot and was impacted by the on-ball defense of St. Joe’s.

Mark, Pope and Johnson all hit a triple for Texas in about a two-minute span ahead of halftime to give the Longhorns their biggest lead at 32-26 but the Hawks responded with a free throw from Haskins 3-pointer from Brown before halftime to cut the lead to 32-30.

The defense from the Hawks ramped up even more, as the Longhorns were stuck in the mud on offense and had little to no ball movement. St. Joe’s was hardly much better, but its defense continued to set the tone and eventually swung the momentum.

Larry then hit back-to-back triples as the two teams traded buckets on five straight possessions. Consecutive dunks from Ajogbor and Fleming but the Hawks in front 50-46 with 8:25 to play, but Larry continued to take over. He hit 1,000 career points with a driving layup before finding Kaluma for a corner triple to put Texas back in front at 51-50.

It didn’t stop there for Larry, who found a cutting Shedrick for a dunk before diving on a loose ball down at the other end to secure possession for Texas, which had built a 55-52 lead with 3:13 left. The Longhorns used the momentum to put together an 8-0 run, which essentially sealed the win in a game where scoring felt hard to come by.

Johnson then closed the game out with six points in the final 4:11 of action, including a pullup jumper at the foul line to put Texas up 63-55 with 1:19 left.

Texas will host Delaware State on Nov. 29.

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