<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="4">The Texas attorney general’s remark that gender-affirming surgeries among minors are cases of "child abuse" has triggered an outrage among trans rights groups who see it as an attack on transgender children.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="5">In a legal opinion released this week, Ken Paxton argued that medical care such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries "must be halted."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="6">He said the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) "has a responsibility to act accordingly."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="7">"There is no doubt that these procedures are "abuse" under Texas law and thus must be halted," Paxton said in a statement.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="8">"I'll do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans," he said.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="9">In response to the opinion, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters "to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="10">It's unclear how much legal standing the order and opinion will have, reported CNN.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="11">The views expressed by the highest officials in Texas were met with condemnation by the trans rights group, who said that "deliberately attacking children and making life harder for them is shocking and un-American."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="12">"Every major medical association in the country supports healthcare for transgender youth, but Republican Gov. Abbott is ignoring experts on children's issues to cruelly and viciously target transgender young people," CEO and president of the LGBTQ non-profit GLAAD, Sarah Kate Ellis, said in a statement.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="12">Texas government has increasingly taken socially conservative stands in recent years, even as&nbsp;its population's political leanings have drifted away from being a Republican state.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="14">The actions come after a series of anti-trans bills that failed to materialise in recent years, some of which would have included preventing transgender Texans from using bathrooms according to their gender identity rather than their biological sex in government buildings and public schools and universities.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="15">According to a study from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, the state has&nbsp;the second highest number of trans people&nbsp;in the US, with some 125,350 adults in Texas identifying as transgender.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="true" data-paragraphid="16"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Texas attorney general’s remark that gender-affirming surgeries among minors are cases of "child abuse" has triggered an outrage among trans rights groups who see it as an attack on transgender children.

The Texas attorney general’s remark that gender-affirming surgeries among minors are cases of "child abuse" has triggered an outrage among trans rights groups who see it as an attack on transgender children. In a legal opinion released this week, Ken Paxton argued that medical care such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries "must be halted." He said the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) "has a responsibility to act accordingly." "There is no doubt that these procedures are "abuse" under Texas law and thus must be halted," Paxton said in a statement. "I'll do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans," he said. In response to the opinion, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters "to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas." It's unclear how much legal standing the order and opinion will have, reported CNN. The views expressed by the highest officials in Texas were met with condemnation by the trans rights group, who said that "deliberately attacking children and making life harder for them is shocking and un-American." "Every major medical association in the country supports healthcare for transgender youth, but Republican Gov. Abbott is ignoring experts on children's issues to cruelly and viciously target transgender young people," CEO and president of the LGBTQ non-profit GLAAD, Sarah Kate Ellis, said in a statement. Texas government has increasingly taken socially conservative stands in recent years, even as its population's political leanings have drifted away from being a Republican state. The actions come after a series of anti-trans bills that failed to materialise in recent years, some of which would have included preventing transgender Texans from using bathrooms according to their gender identity rather than their biological sex in government buildings and public schools and universities. According to a study from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, the state has the second highest number of trans people in the US, with some 125,350 adults in Texas identifying as transgender. (With inputs from agencies)

Texas attorney general calls gender-affirming surgeries ‘child abuse’, sparks outrage

The Chinese law recognizes same-sex couples but legal sanctions have not been accorded to gay marriages. However, under XI Jinping the LGBTQ community is increasingly feeling the heat. WION brings you a report.

Same sex marriages are not recognized under Chinese law

On the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, an event that catalysed the gay rights movement in June 1969, we bring you powerful 'Voices of Pride' from India on WION Wideangle. Despite being in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the LGBTQ+ community is keeping the dialogue alive. Hotelier Keshav Suri, Chef Ritu Dalmia, HIV and Gay Rights Activist Gautam Yadav , Equal Rights Activist Harish Iyer and Nitasha Biswas- India’s First Transgender Beauty Contest Winner speak to WION about gay pride and gay rights.

Fast Facts: LGBTQ Rights Milestones | 'Voices of Pride' |  WION Wideangle

Four lesbian women are suing a US state for discrimination for insisting women have unprotected sex with a man to prove they are infertile and claim insurance cover for treatment.<br />
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In a landmark case, the women filed the complaint after being rejected by their insurer for infertility treatment, and arguing the law discriminated against infertile gay women by forcing them, not straight women, to pay for procedures.&nbsp;Two of the women, Erin and Marianne Krupa, a couple, spent more than $25,000 on failed infertility treatment in five months after their insurance claim was rejected, the complaint said.<br />
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The civil complaint filed in a federal court in the state of New Jersey adds to an ongoing debate in the United States about the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.<br />
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Grace Cathryn Cretcher, an attorney for the women, said she believed this was the first case of its kind with the women trying to change the legal definition of infertility to make it easier for future lesbian couples seeking to have a baby.<br />
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According to the suit, the law in New Jersey defines infertility as when a woman cannot conceive after a year or more of unprotected intercourse.&nbsp;Susan Sommer, a spokeswoman for Lambda Legal, a New York City-based LGBT rights group, said insurance standards needed to be updated for same-sex couples to receive full equality,<br />
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<h5>This lawsuit reflects the frustration and indignities lesbian and gay people endure because state laws and insurance rules continue to presume the only parents are heterosexual parents,&quot; Susan Sommer said in a statement</h5>
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The four women are seeking an order declaring the New Jersey insurance law is unconstitutional and discriminatory and also an injunction ordering the state to expand insurance cover for infertility to women in same-sex relationships.<br />
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New Jersey is one of 15 US states to have passed laws that require insurance companies to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, which tracks state laws.&nbsp;So far California and Maryland are the only states to have updated their definitions of infertility to include gay couples.<br />
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The lawsuit, filed in a Newark court last week, names the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance&#39;s commissioner, Richard J Badolato, as the defendant. It did not list a defense attorney.&nbsp;A government spokesman said the department &quot;does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation&quot;.<br />
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The Krupas and the two other women, Sol Mejias and Sarah Mills, were all clients of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the complaint said.&nbsp;A spokesman for the company said the suit takes issue with the law and not Horizon, which covers &quot;infertility services equally, regardless of sexual orientation&quot;.<br />
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The company eventually agreed to pay for infertility treatment for Krupa, the complaint said, but it was not successful.&nbsp;&quot;Horizon is committed to equality, values our LGBTQ members, and is sensitive to their unique healthcare challenges and needs,&quot; the insurance company said in an email.<br />
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(Reuters)

The four women seek an injunction ordering the state to expand insurance coverage for infertility to women in same-sex relationships

Four lesbian women are suing a US state for discrimination for insisting women have unprotected sex with a man to prove they are infertile and claim insurance cover for treatment. In a landmark case, the women filed the complaint after being rejected by their insurer for infertility treatment, and arguing the law discriminated against infertile gay women by forcing them, not straight women, to pay for procedures. Two of the women, Erin and Marianne Krupa, a couple, spent more than $25,000 on failed infertility treatment in five months after their insurance claim was rejected, the complaint said. The civil complaint filed in a federal court in the state of New Jersey adds to an ongoing debate in the United States about the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Grace Cathryn Cretcher, an attorney for the women, said she believed this was the first case of its kind with the women trying to change the legal definition of infertility to make it easier for future lesbian couples seeking to have a baby. According to the suit, the law in New Jersey defines infertility as when a woman cannot conceive after a year or more of unprotected intercourse. Susan Sommer, a spokeswoman for Lambda Legal, a New York City-based LGBT rights group, said insurance standards needed to be updated for same-sex couples to receive full equality, This lawsuit reflects the frustration and indignities lesbian and gay people endure because state laws and insurance rules continue to presume the only parents are heterosexual parents," Susan Sommer said in a statement The four women are seeking an order declaring the New Jersey insurance law is unconstitutional and discriminatory and also an injunction ordering the state to expand insurance cover for infertility to women in same-sex relationships. New Jersey is one of 15 US states to have passed laws that require insurance companies to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, which tracks state laws. So far California and Maryland are the only states to have updated their definitions of infertility to include gay couples. The lawsuit, filed in a Newark court last week, names the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance's commissioner, Richard J Badolato, as the defendant. It did not list a defense attorney. A government spokesman said the department "does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation". The Krupas and the two other women, Sol Mejias and Sarah Mills, were all clients of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the complaint said. A spokesman for the company said the suit takes issue with the law and not Horizon, which covers "infertility services equally, regardless of sexual orientation". The company eventually agreed to pay for infertility treatment for Krupa, the complaint said, but it was not successful. "Horizon is committed to equality, values our LGBTQ members, and is sensitive to their unique healthcare challenges and needs," the insurance company said in an email. (Reuters)

Four lesbians sue US state for insisting sex with a man proves infertility

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Texas attorney general calls gender-affirming surgeries ‘child abuse’, sparks outrage

Same sex marriages are not recognized under Chinese law

Fast Facts: LGBTQ Rights Milestones | 'Voices of Pride' | WION Wideangle

Four lesbians sue US state for insisting sex with a man proves infertility