The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to suspend official travel to Texas over its recent controversial policies targeting transgender youth.
In their motion, board members stated that the Lone Star State’s decision to investigate certain gender-affirming medical care for trans youth as child abuse “flies in the face of all that we know about best practices when it comes to supporting children and young adults to discover who they are and feel secure in their sense of self,” according to the Pasadena Star-News.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s declaration last month has led to health providers in the state suspending such treatments. “Caregivers who support youth with affirming care should in no way be labeled as abusive,” the motion said, according to Star-News. “This order is discriminatory, harmful and just plain cruel.”
LA’s ban makes an exception for the cancellation of any trips that “would seriously harm the county’s interests.” It also does not apply to law enforcement, tax auditors and collectors, and anyone who needs to travel to the states to appear before a federal committee.
The board also banned taxpayer-funded travel to Florida over its controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill, contending that the bill, which restricts instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, will “perpetuate a culture of bullying, secrecy, shame and fear,” Star-News reported. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick earlier this week expressed interest in adopting a similar bill in Texas.
California passed a law in 2017 that restricts taxpayer-funded travel to places that “authorize discrimination” against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, effectively barring the state from spending taxpayer money sending state employees or officials to certain states.
The prohibition will remain in place as long as Texas and California’s policies remain in place. The law does not apply to private citizens.
That year, California also banned state-funded travel to the Lone Star State after Texas legislators passed a law providing legal protection for religious adoption and foster care agencies turning prospective parents away for being gay, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Texas previously filed a challenge against California’s policy. However, last year the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit, allowing the ban to remain in place.