Austin moves to become ‘sanctuary city’ for minors seeking sex change

In a vote held on Thursday, City Council members approved a resolution by a margin of 10-1, directing the Austin police to deprioritize the Texas law that prohibits certain treatments for transgender-identifying minors as their lowest enforcement priority.

The resolution states that the city will not utilize personnel, funds, or resources to investigate, prosecute, or impose penalties on transgender or nonbinary individuals seeking healthcare, nor on individuals or organizations providing or assisting with the provision of such healthcare.

Additionally, the resolution affirms that the city will not restrict eligibility for city funding, including grants or contracts, based on a group's proclivities toward encouraging or facilitiating sex changes for minors.

In a statement regarding the decision, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said that the city would "prioritize public safety and basic needs of all Austinites," according to KXAN.

"The resolution passed by the Austin City Council is a statement – that we care about all Austinites and want to use our limited City resources to serve and protect all our neighbors," said Watson.

The council's decision drew both support and criticism from members of the community, with numerous individuals voicing their opinions during the meeting.

One resident shared her disapproval of the resolution, citing her personal experience of undergoing hormonal therapy as a minor. She highlighted the medical complications she faced as a result.

"The legislation this item is against is not taking away rights or anatomy [sic], it is regulating experimental medicine on children in a non-criminal way," the Austin resident stated.

"Save every kid from the unnecessary hormone complications and loss of body parts. Question why kids and adults are rejecting their sexes, and give these kids the therapist support they need," she continued.