I hate Ken Paxton. Hes a piece of shit, we all know it. So, let's dive into the saga of his ongoing battles with the LGBTQIA+ community, and his attempts to eradicate us in the community from the earth utterly. Buckle up, because this isn't a short story, and Wendy is fucking pissed.
The Marriage Equality Showdown
Right out of the gate in 2015, when the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land in Obergefell v. Hodges, Paxton wasn't having it, like most of the Christian whining bitches. Instead of just accepting the ruling like most officials, he fired off a statement telling county clerks they could totally refuse to issue marriage licenses if it went against their religious beliefs ( Everyone remembers Kim Davis right? I have a piece about her coming out in the future). Talk about starting things off on the wrong foot. He didn't stop there. Paxton went on to sue the federal government over workplace protections for LGBTQIA+ employees and fought against extending spousal benefits to gay couples. Even when the Supreme Court had clearly spoken, he kept trying to find loopholes to limit marriage equality in Texas.
The Bathroom Bill Battle
Remember 2017's bathroom bill drama? Paxton was front and center, cheerleading for SB6, which would have forced transgender people to use bathrooms matching their birth certificate gender. He claimed it was about "safety," but let's be real - it was discrimination dressed up as protection. The bill ultimately failed, but Paxton's support for it showed exactly where he stood.
The Healthcare Showdown
In 2021, Paxton really doubled down. When the Biden administration said you can't discriminate against transgender people in healthcare? Paxton sued. When federal guidelines protected transgender workers? He sued again. It became his go-to move: see LGBTQIA+ protection, file lawsuit.
The Trans Youth Crisis
But things got really serious when Paxton set his sights on transgender youth and their families. In 2022, he dropped a bombshell opinion claiming that gender-affirming care for minors could be considered "child abuse." This wasn't just words on paper - it triggered investigations into families of trans kids and sent many fleeing the state in fear.
He followed this up with lawsuits against Texas Children's Hospital and other medical providers, trying to block gender-affirming care. The human cost? Families torn apart, doctors threatened, and vulnerable kids caught in the crossfire.
The Pride Month Pushback
Even something as simple as Pride Month celebrations couldn't escape Paxton's attention. His office has repeatedly challenged school districts and public institutions over Pride displays and events, claiming they violate parental rights or promote "inappropriate" content.
The Social Media Standoff
In 2023, Paxton's office began investigating social media companies over their content moderation policies protecting LGBTQIA+ users from harassment, claiming these policies discriminated against conservative viewpoints. This move effectively tried to make it harder for platforms to protect LGBTQIA+ users from online hate.
The Latest Chapters
The hits keep coming. Most recently, Paxton's office has:
- Challenged federal guidelines protecting LGBTQIA+ students from discrimination
- Fought against inclusive workplace policies in state agencies
- Continued pushing to restrict transgender healthcare access
- Opposed diversity and inclusion programs that include LGBTQIA+ perspectives
The Impact
Here's the thing - these aren't just political moves or legal arguments. Each action has real consequences for real Texans. We're talking about:
- Families having to choose between leaving Texas or losing access to healthcare
- LGBTQIA+ workers feeling unsafe in their jobs
- Trans kids facing bullying and discrimination at school
- Same-sex couples still fighting for basic rights years after marriage equality
- Medical professionals caught between helping patients and facing legal threats
What's Next?
If history is any guide, Paxton isn't likely to change course anytime soon. I honestly wish he fucking would, but we know what happens when you wish for that kind of thing in today’s america right? NOTHING!!!! His pattern of targeting LGBTQIA+ rights has been consistent throughout his time as Attorney General, and there's no sign of that stopping.
Citations
1. Supreme Court of Texas Advisory (2015) - Paxton's guidance on marriage licenses
2. Texas v. United States (2016) - Challenge to federal LGBTQ workplace protections
3. Texas Senate Bill 6 (2017) - The "bathroom bill" legislation
4. Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0401 (2022) - Gender-affirming care opinion
5. Department of Family and Protective Services v. Doe (2022) - Trans youth investigations
6. Texas Children's Hospital v. State of Texas (2023) - Gender-affirming care lawsuit
7. Office of the Attorney General Press Releases (2015-2024) - Various statements and actions
8. ACLU of Texas Reports (2015-2024) - Documentation of legal challenges
9. Texas Tribune coverage (2015-2024) - Ongoing reporting of Paxton's LGBTQIA+ positions
10. Lambda Legal case files (2015-2024) - Legal challenges to Paxton's actions