Mesa Springs Behavioral Hospital in Fort Worth is reportedly placing children based on their gender identity rather than biological sex, according to allegations shared by State Representative-elect David Lowe.
Lowe posted screenshots on X from a constituent who claimed that the hospital placed a loved one in a unit with children of the opposite biological sex.
“Reinforcing a child’s unhealthy gender fantasy during a mental health crisis is child abuse. Supervising doctors are directly violating their Hippocratic Oath,” Lowe told The Dallas Express.
One screenshot allegedly shows a hospital staff member confirming that patients are placed according to gender identity.
Just heard from a constituent whose loved one was placed with children of the opposite sex.
Mesa Springs Behavioral Hospital in Fort Worth reportedly places children based on gender identity rather than biological sex. My volunteers have confirmed this. @SaraGonzalesTX… pic.twitter.com/gqAKJ2WL6u
— David Lowe for Texas (@DavidLowe4Texas) November 12, 2024
The message reads: “We place patients according to their gender identity. We are a behavioral health hospital that offers both acute, short-term inpatient treatment and outpatient group therapy. Do either of these sound like programs you would be interested in?” the screenshot shows.
“Mesa Springs is a behavioral health hospital located in Fort Worth, TX. We provide inpatient and outpatient programming for those facing mental health and addiction challenges. Our programs offer compassionate behavioral health treatment for children, adolescents and adults as well as specialized treatment for military, veterans, first responders and other frontline professionals as part of our Help for Heroes® program,” reads the Mesa Springs’ website.
The website also states that group therapy can be centered around LGBTQ themes.
“In our children’s mental health programs, families play an important role in helping kids develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Children and teens also have opportunities to participate in group therapy centered around topics of interest to them, like LGBTQIA+, gender-specific group therapy, and trauma-informed care,” reads the Mesa Springs Mental Health Programs for Children & Teens website.
Currently, SB14, which was passed in 2023, only prohibits drug and surgical transitions for minors, according to the Texas Attorney General’s website.
The screenshots have led to reactions on X.
“Women and girls in Texas are not safe in inpatient mental health facilities when males are able to be placed with females. This must end!” Tracy Shannon wrote on X.
The Dallas Express reached out to Mesa Springs Behavioral Hospital in Fort Worth for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
