Gateway City Pride Association reacts to bill that bans treatments for transgender youth

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - An organization that represents the LGBTQ community spoke out about the senate bill that they say will have a devastating impact to the group if it passes.

A nightmare that could soon become a reality for many in the LGBTQ-Plus community.

A three-year-old organization that represents and encourages the community is condemning this soon-to-be-law.

Mark Nix is the secretary for the Gateway City Pride Association in Laredo.

“It is outrageous and preposterous that our lawmakers are doing this type of matter,” said Nix.

If the bill passes, he said it will be a huge setback for the LGBTQ Plus community.

The main concern is that kids could be urged to find gender reassignment surgery or treatment abroad and if it is not treated correctly, it could be fatal.

“What if it’s expired? What if it’s this? What if it’s not from a health care facility that you shouldn’t be taking, but there might be a spike in that, especially in here in Texas,” said Nix.

Nix said this law can impact the state’s economy.

“Big pharmacies are going to feel it, pharmaceuticals will feel it, I’m sure doctors will feel it, it’s the same thing that they will feel when it comes to abortion as well, I mean our health care system it’s very capitalistic when you look at it and you know it’s a cost per service and you are removing another service from these doctors,” said Nix.

Nix said the organization has helped thousands of people in the Gateway City and they have even thought about traveling as a group to the governors’ door in Austin to demand equal rights for the LGBTQ Plus Community.

“We’re here to help, June is coming up ‚we can stomp on these problems together and continue to keep pushing forward on whatever is given to us, there’s always a way around,” said Nix.

According to the Williams Institute, a UCLA research group, Texas has more than 29,000 people under the age, who identify as transgender.

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