Dozens of major U.S. companies are rallying to renounce a Texas law that would criminalize medical treatments for trans youth.
Apple, Google, Gap, Meta, and Ikea are just a few of the more than 60 major businesses that signed on to a new full-page ad in Friday’s print edition of the Dallas Morning News, asking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to abandon the executive order he signed last month that equates providing treatments to trans teenagers to child abuse.
Friday’s ad, written by the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization the Human Rights Campaign, was the biggest and most concentrated effort so far from businesses calling for Abbott to revoke the order.
“Discrimination is bad for business,” reads the ad. “The recent attempt to criminalize a parent for helping their transgender child access medically necessary, age-appropriate health care in the state of Texas goes against the values of our companies…It’s not just wrong, it has an impact on our employees, our customers, their families and our work.”
Abbott’s Feb. 22 order requires the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate instances of “sex change” procedures for teenagers, including surgeries and puberty-blocking drugs. The order further aims to label parents who help their children receive gender-affirming treatments as child abusers. Teachers and medical professionals who do not report such parents are also susceptible to facing criminal charges for failing to report child abuse, according to Abbott’s letter announcing the executive order.
It is one of several anti-LGBTQ bills written by conservative politicians ahead of midterm elections later this year. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing for a bill—known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill—that bans elementary schools from teaching anything about sexual orientation.
Both measures have faced waves of criticism in recent weeks. In Texas last week, a lawsuit was filed against the governor alleging the executive order violates the constitutional rights of transgender children and their parents.
Among the other companies that signed on to the ad include Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, PayPal, Capital One, Macy’s, and REI.
On Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook, who came out as gay in 2014, took to Twitter to voice his support for the LGBTQ community and denounce the recent proposals. “As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am deeply concerned about laws being enacted across the country, particularly those focused on our vulnerable youth,” Cook said in the tweet. “I stand with them and the families, loved ones, and allies who support them.”
