The Hill reported:

Texas Republicans this week pre-filed several bills ahead of the state’s next legislative session in January, teeing up efforts to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender youth and subject drag performances to the same rigorous standards as nightclubs and bars.

At least three bills filed Monday in the Texas House would designate gender-affirming care for minors as child abuse under state law, and another would revoke liability insurance for providers that prescribe medications used to treat gender dysphoria in minors.

Texas legislators in 2021 considered this type of legislation, but the bill did not make it through before the session ended. But next year, it appears lawmakers will make it a priority.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton earlier this year issued an opinion interpreting state law to mean that puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical treatments for minors are a form of child abuse. Gov. Greg Abbott instructed state agencies to launch investigations into the parents of minors who are seeking this type of “gender-affirming care.” This move was challenged in court, and judges have blocked investigations into specific families.

But that’s not all.

Another bill introduced by state Rep. Jared Patterson would “classify any business that hosts a drag performance as a ‘sexually oriented business’” under Texas law. This means that individuals younger than 18 would be prohibited from attending drag shows geared toward minors.

“Those who violate the bill’s provisions will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, on par with vehicle burglary and punishable by up to a year of county jail time and a fine of up to $4,000,” according to The Hill.

If these measures pass, Texas will have adopted laws similar to Tennessee, Florida, and others.

Of course, it is worth mentioning that these proposals will be met with resistance from Democrats and left-leaning media outlets. For example, the Texas Tribune argued:

Gender-affirming care is recommended by all major medical associations to treat gender dysphoria, the distress someone can feel when their physical presentation does not align with their gender identity. For teens and youth, gender-affirming care is often limited to social transition — using different pronouns or wearing different clothes — but can include puberty blockers, which are fully reversible, and hormone therapy.

However, many – even on the left – have acknowledged that there is not enough data showing that these treatments are beneficial to the physical and mental well-being of children. Indeed, European nations like the United Kingdom, Finland, and Sweden, have pulled away from allowing these procedures to be performed on minors. These countries had been using these treatments decades before the United States, and their research has shown that they can have a pernicious effect on these individuals when they become adults.

Moreover, encouraging drag shows for children has been controversial ever since they came to light earlier this year. Many are pushing back against the sexualization of children in society and especially in K-12 schools.

If these measures are passed, it will be a huge victory – especially in a state like Texas. It is easy to assume that the movement to sexualize children and promote transgenderism in schools and medical facilities is occurring primarily in blue states. But the fact is that red states have been experiencing this troubling phenomenon just as frequently. Hopefully, this will be another step toward protecting Texas’ children.