The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) joins with the Texas Nurses Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Texas Pediatric Society, and other leading organizations in opposing a directive issued by the Governor of Texas classifying gender affirming care for minors as child abuse.

On February 22, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a letter he sent to the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services directing an investigation of any licensed professionals who work with children, including nurses, providing gender-affirming medical care to transgender minors. The Governor’s directive is based upon an opinion letter from Texas Attorney General interpreting gender affirming medical procedures on children to be considered child abuse.

AMSN is the only specialty nursing organization dedicated to the practice of medical-surgical nursing and we stand for the value of every person and patient and for their access to excellent health care. Transgender persons are wrongly subject to discrimination and violence that burdens their mental health and well-being and deserve access to quality health care the same as anyone else. In addition, Nurses and other healthcare professionals should not be subject to fear of legal investigation for providing gender-affirming care.