A Texas Senate bill has been rescheduled for debate and vote on the House floor on Friday after stalling earlier in the week amid protests and a technical error that forced the bill back to committee on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 14, authored by 10 Republican senators, aims to ban “procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria” for minors. The bill would also prohibit “the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments.”
The bill passed in the Texas Senate in early April, earning the commendation of the Republican Party of Texas. The party’s chairman, Matt Rinaldi, said, “The Texas Senate continues to lead the way in protecting families and delivering conservative victories, and we applaud their efforts.”
After its passage in the Senate, the bill moved to the House of Representatives for consideration. The House Public Health Committee added a provision to the bill that would require minors who identify as transgender who are already taking hormone therapy or “puberty blockers” to be “weaned off the prescription drug over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate.”
The bill was scheduled for debate on the House floor on Tuesday, but protesters interrupted House proceedings before a discussion of the bill could take place.
The Texas Family Project, a conservative organization, took to Twitter to describe the protests.
“On Tuesday, trans activists disrupted proceedings in the house, exposed themselves to legislators and others in attendance, and argued, assaulted, and fought with law enforcement,” the organization posted.
Planned Parenthood in Texas tweeted a video of protesters unfurling a banner at the Capitol building, adding the comment:
“Texans are packing the Capitol in opposition to #SB14 –– an anti-gender-affirming care for trans kids bill. Enough is enough. We will not stay quiet while politicians in our state place trans kids under harm. There’s no place for hate in Texas.”
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan tweeted:
“Rules matter in the TX House. Today’s outbursts in the gallery were a breach of decorum & continued after I warned that such behaviors would not be tolerated. There will always be differing perspectives, but in our chamber, we will debate those differences w/ respect.”
Phelan ordered State Troopers to clear the public from the gallery of the House just as the bill came to the floor. As the protesters filed out, some chanted, “Trans rights are human rights,” KHOU News reported.
The bill ultimately failed to progress any further on Tuesday. It was sent back to the committee on a technicality after a Democratic representative called a point of order to point out a procedural error in introducing the bill.
Despite the protests, the majority of the Texas House reportedly supports the measure, which is expected to pass.
