What’s Happening in Loe v. Texas?

Summary: Loe v. Texas at the Supreme Court of Texas involves a dispute over parental rights regarding gender transition surgery for minors. After the passage of SB 14, a law restricting such procedures, a district court issued an injunction, which was appealed by the Texas Attorney General, leading to an ongoing legal battle. The ACLU has usurped the parental rights mantel to argue that parents are constitutionally entitled to obtain gender transition surgeries for their minor children–irreversible surgeries that have devastatingly harmful, lifelong consequences. The State of Texas has effectively argued in response that the law banning these procedures is permissible because parents just don’t have that many rights to begin with. The state claims that parental rights are limited to what the state has placed “on the menu,” and that the state may take things off the menu at any time without serious oversight from the courts. In combination, the arguments from the two sides present a significant threat to parental rights in Texas and the well-being of Texas children. The Family Freedom Project is focused on clearly demonstrating to the court the legal pathway by which it can protect children and parental rights at the same time.

Latest News in Loe v. Texas Case

Timeline of Events in Loe v. Texas Case

FFP Files Post-submission Brief at Supreme Court of Texas
February 1, 2024

Jeremy Newman, VP of Policy at the Family Freedom Project, released the following statement about Loe v. Texas.

Parental rights are delegated by God alongside the high duty of parents to nurture and protect their child’s wellbeing. They are not designed by the state and then served up on a pre-curated menu. The court can respect the rights of parents and protect children from experimental medical procedures at the same time.

READ MORE
The Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) hears oral arguments
January 29, 2024

During oral arguments, the state’s legal team argued that the ban doesn’t infringe on parental rights because parents are restricted to only pick from the “menu” of decisions that the state designs for them. The state further made the dangerous argument that it could restrict the decisions of parents in this manner without having to face serious oversight by the courts.

READ MORE
FFP Files Amicus Curaie Brief at the Supreme Court of Texas
January 22, 2024

Jeremy Newman, VP of Policy at the Family Freedom Project, released the following statement about Loe v. Texas.

“We absolutely support the fundamental right of parents to make decisions for their children. One hundred years of legal precedent also establishes beyond debate that parents do not have the right to make decisions that significantly and irreversibly damage their child’s health and well-being through experimental medical procedures. Family Freedom Project’s role in this lawsuit is to show a clear path to the courts for how SB 14 can be upheld to protect children without weakening the constitutional rights of parents.”

READ MORE
SB 14 Goes Into Full Effect
September 1, 2024

The ACLU filed a request that the high court at least temporarily block the law before it went into effect on September 1, but the court denied the request. As a result, the law went into full effect on September 1, and gender transition procedures on minors became illegal in Texas. The court proceeded to request full arguments from both sides so it could decide whether to ultimately block or uphold the law.

READ MORE
The Texas Attorney General’s office files an emergency appeal directly to the Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX)
One hour later

Within an hour, the Texas Attorney General’s office had filed an emergency appeal directly to the Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX), a move that automatically halted the order from the trial judge, which had blocked the law.

READ MORE
District court in Travis County issues an injunction
August 25, 2023

On August 25, 2023, a district court in Travis County issued an injunction to prevent the state from enforcing SB 14, a move that was widely anticipated by those closely following the ongoing legal debate.

READ MORE
Senate Bill 14 (SB 14) was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott
June 2, 2023

On June 2, 2023, Senate Bill 14 (SB 14) was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, restricting chemical and surgical gender transition procedures on minors.

READ MORE

Join the fight and share what is happening with parental rights in Texas!