New legislation filed in the Texas House aims to protect minors from social transitioning.
State Rep. Steve Toth (R-Conroe) filed House Bill 2258, also known as the Vulnerable Youth Protection Act, which imposes a “private civil liability on anyone who causes or contributes to the social transitioning of a minor.”
Toth’s measure describes social transitioning as any act by which a child adopts a gender identity that differs from their biological sex. Acts include changes in clothing, pronouns, hairstyles, and name changes.
Additionally, the legislation adds liability to any person who castrates, mutilates, or sterilizes a child through medical or surgical procedures related to gender transitions.
If an individual were to win a related lawsuit, he or she would be entitled to nominal damages, compensatory damages, and statutory damages in an amount no less than $10,000 from each defendant. A person affected by irreversible sterilization will be entitled to punitive damages in an amount no less than $10 million in addition to compensatory damages and attorney’s fees.
A lawsuit may be brought against a defendant no later than 20 years after the date the action occurred.
Toth told Texas Scorecard that the measure was created to protect children from the “Transgender Cult.”
“Our kids need us to take a stand for them. My bill, HB 2258, The Texas Vulnerable Youth Protection Act is built on the legislative genius of Jonathan Mitchell who gave us The Texas Heartbeat Act,” said Toth. “Texans will be able to bring a lawsuit against any counselor that is grooming a vulnerable child, and adults that realize that they were deceived will be able to bring lawsuits with punitive damages that start at $10 million.”
“Texas must take a stand for these kids,” he concluded.
Texas Family Project President Brady Gray also commented on the measure, telling Texas Scorecard that Texans have a duty to protect minors from evil “trans ideology.”
“The trans movement in America has been one not of biology but of social engineering. It is learned behavior that has been forced upon our society by devious actors. Minors—those age 17 and under—are disproportionately affected by this deception,” said Gray. “As a society we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable among us. This means we must do everything in our power to stop the evil of trans ideology that is plaguing our country and destroying the future of so many young people.”
The 89th Legislative Session ends June 2.
