Greg Abbott poised to sign law banning all child sex changes in Texas

According to the Texas Tribune, the state Senate voted 19-12 to accept the House version of Senate Bill 14, and the legislation now heads to Republican Governor Greg Abbott's desk for signature.

If Abbott signs the bill, which he is expected to do, the ban will take effect Sept. 1.

The bill prohibits minors from receiving puberty blockers and other hormone therapies used in so-called gender transition treatments and also requires those already receiving such procedures to be "weaned" off them.

Republican state Sen. Bob Hall said, "…our job is to protect people. We protect children against lots of things. We don’t let them smoke. We don’t let them drink. We don’t let them buy lottery cards … And so, we are doing the right thing."

Some Democrats joined their GOP colleagues in supporting the legislation. Democratic Rep. Shawn Thierry told Fox & Friends First on Monday, "I just don't think this is something that we can play politics with. Children are not political pawns."

The legislature also approved Senate Bill 15, which bans athletes from competing in sports matches designated for the opposite sex at public universities and colleges.

Last week, when the House passed the bill, The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas tweeted, "Politicians who voted for this bill cruelly turned their backs on families, science, and the safety and lives of children. Trans people have always existed and always will. This is not the end."