Texas removes suicide hotline from LGBTQ site because it could hurt GOP governor's reelection

[CousinIT]

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/10/texas-removes-suicide-hotline-lgbtq-site-hurt-gop-governors-reputation/

Despite the fact that the site was providing information that could save lives, it was taken down to advance Abbott’s political career and replaced with a message that said that it “has been temporarily disabled for a comprehensive review of its content.” Now the page is completely offline.

“The state is responsible for these kids’ lives, yet it intentionally removed a way for them to find help when they need it the most,” said Ricardo Martinez of Equality Texas. “This action is unconscionable, and it reminds us that political aspirations are part of every attack on LGBTQ+ kids in Texas.”

“These precious kids deserve so much better than the way this state is treating them.”

LGBTQ youth have a high rate of suicide and attempted suicide than their cishet counterparts. The Trevor Project, which runs the LGBTQ youth suicide hotline that used to be linked on the Texas website, reported a 150% increase in calls from transgender youth in Texas since the state legislature started trying to pass laws attacking transgender youth this year.

Huffines has been pushing Abbott to the right on several issues, including LGBTQ rights. He asked Abbott to put a law to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender youth on the agenda for a special session of the state legislature this past summer.

[Skittles]

1. this man calls himself "pro-life"

he's one fucked up piece of utter SHIT

[Demovictory9]

2. Abbott is sick. i hope he loses

[xxqqqzme]

3. He disgusts me.

Bet he gets re-elected!

[calimary]

4. Then your problem is the VOTERS who somehow are okay with cruelty and shit like this.

[xxqqqzme]

15. I ran for state assembly a few years ago.

I got an education on voters. Don't trust them.

[NurseJackie]

5. Evil. Pure evil.

[Roy Rolling]

6. They Don't Stand for Anything

Whatever the mob wants, they act like puppets on a string.

Except for Abbott—he doesn’t stand for anything. It’s easy for him.

And before anyone gets offended, I use a wheelchair now for transportation. I’m sick of him and tree-punching guy making us all look like Mr. Potter from the movie Its a Wonderful Life”.

Fuck them and the wheels they rolled up on.

[SergeStorms]

7. Texas runs the risk...

of becoming a national joke if Abbott is re-elected, and republicans continue their free fall to the bottom of the humanitarian barrel.

"Texas republican" is very close to replacing "Florida man" as the country's go-to laughing stock of abject stupidity.

[OldBaldy1701E]

8. And

We need to remember to laugh at them at every opportunity. Don't let up. Point and laugh if you can, so that these complete loons will crawl back into their holes. (No offense to the bird.)

[IHaveNoName]

9. Oh, it's much worse than that.

The bigger issue is that Abbott is allowing this because his opponent is EVEN WORSE on this issue, and doesn't want ANY state funds to go to LGBTQ rights or assistance. "These are not Texas values" is his rallying cry. So Abbott, who is already an asshole on the issue, has to get even MORE asshole-ish just to try to stay even further to the right of his incredibly asshole-ish opponent. It's a race to the bottom of the asshole barrel, and both of them are winning.

[LiberatedUSA]

10. Wholly fucking shit that is some cold shit! N/t

[vercetti2021]

11. I absolutely hate this motherfucker with every ounce of my being

Honestly I hope somebody doesn't "accidentally" wheels him down a flight of stairs.

[SWBTATTReg]

12. This sounds like a first amendment right/freedom of speech issue, where they don't have the ...

right to interfere w/ this ... how are they getting away w/ this?

[Oneironaut]

13. Imagine being to the right of Greg Abbott.

That would put you somewhere between Hitler and Darth Vader.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. State agency removed online resources for LGBTQ youth after complaints from Abbott primary opponent

This is disgusting

Link to tweet

State agency removed online resources for LGBTQ youth after complaints from a Republican challenging Gov. Greg Abbott, emails show https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/12/texas-lgbtq-resources-department-family-protective-services/

Texas’ child welfare agency removed a webpage that offered resources to LGBTQ youth following complaints by one of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s GOP primary challengers, according to internal agency communications.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services webpage, which provides information to children in the foster care system, included information about a suicide prevention hotline, LGBTQ legal services, and questions about defining gender and sexual identity.

On Aug. 31, Republican former state Sen. Don Huffines released a video on Twitter claiming that DFPS is “promoting transgender sexual policies to Texas youth” through a webpage titled “Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.”

“These are not Texas values, these are not Republican party values, but these are obviously Greg Abbott’s values, that’s why we need a change, that’s what my campaign’s about,” Huffines said.

The Houston Chronicle first reported on the internal agency correspondence. According to communications obtained by The Texas Tribune, in the hours after Huffines’ video went up, DFPS employees discussed the possibility of removing the webpage or changing its content.

Huffines, a staunch conservative, is challenging Abbott from the right in next year’s GOP primary. Abbott’s office has not responded to a request for comment on the matter. The governor has power to appoint the DFPS commissioner and the agency’s nine-member council.

In an email to DFPS spokesperson Patrick Crimmins on Aug. 31, DFPS media specialist Marissa Gonzales wrote that Huffines’ video was “starting to blow up on Twitter,” linking to his video and the webpage in question. The page was populated with information from the Texas Youth Connection, a DFPS division that provides “local and national resources to help youth transition into adulthood.”