MA Companies Push To Stop Gov. Abbott's Anti-Transgender Efforts

BOSTON — Multiple companies around Boston signed a letter calling on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other public leaders to stop his anti-LGBTQ+ efforts.

More than 60 companies signed a letter Friday criticizing Abbott's plan to criminalize the parents who help their transgender children get gender-affirming care. This letter is an attempt by businesses to use their influence to stand against specific state attacks on transgender children and their families.

Three of those 60 companies three were from Boston: Akamai Technologies, State Street Corp., and Trillium Asset Management. MassMutual, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Yahoo, and VMWare who have offices in the Boston area, also signed onto the letter.

Last month, Abbott issued a directive to instruct the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate cases where children received puberty-blockers and other gender-affirming practices.

Abbott called these practices "abusive procedures," after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton categorized "sex change" as a form of "child abuse" under state law, NPR reported. "There is no doubt that these procedures are 'abuse' under Texas law, and thus must be halted," Paxton wrote in a statement Monday.

On Friday, a state district judge temporarily blocked Abbott's directive.

"The recent attempt to criminalize a parent for helping their transgender child access medically necessary, age-appropriate healthcare in the state of Texas goes against the values of our companies," the letter states. "This policy creates fear for employees and their families, especially those with transgender children, who might now be faced with choosing to provide the best possible medical care for their children but risk having those children removed by child protective services for doing so."

More than 160 major companies have also signed the Human Rights Campaign and Freedom for All Americans' Business Statement Opposing Anti-LGBTQ State Legislation, stating their clear opposition to harmful legislation aimed at restricting the access and freedom of LGBTQ+ people in society.

"Texas state leaders are forcing parents of transgender kids to decide between abandoning their lives, quitting their jobs, and leaving the state or fostering a safe, inclusive environment for their child," said Joni Madison, interim president of the Human Rights Campaign. "These businesses recognize this unfair ultimatum and are advocating for their LGBTQ+ employees, customers and their families."

In May 2021, Abbott signed Senate Bill 8, also known as the heartbeat bill. The law bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, which can occur as early as six weeks into pregnancy, and leaves enforcement to individual actors who can sue anyone who performs, aids or abets an abortion that violates the law for up to $10,000.