In a letter signed by more than 60 companies across the United States — including several based in Massachusetts — business leaders are standing together against Texas Governor’s order to penalize families with transgender children. The order criminalizes gender-affirming, medically approved treatments for trans children and calls for parents of these kids to be investigated for child abuse.
Despite last week’s news that a Texas court ruled against Abbott’s order, the state’s attorney general said they would appeal.
Boston Business Journal reports:
Multiple Boston-area companies signed onto a letter urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to reverse course on his effort to seek criminal penalties for parents who help their transgender children get gender-affirming care.
More than 60 companies signed a letter on Friday blasting Abbott’s directive criminalizing gender-affirming care for transgender children. They include three Boston-based companies — biotech Akamai Technologies, bank State Street Corp. and ESG-focused investment firm Trillium Asset Management — as well as the Springfield-based insurance company, MassMutual.
Cloud computing company VMWare and global media and tech company Yahoo, which have offices in Boston, also signed onto the letter. Other signatories include online giants Google, Microsoft, Meta — all based in Cambridge — and Ben & Jerry’s, based in Burlington, Vermont.
“The recent attempt to criminalize a parent for helping their transgender child access medically necessary, age-appropriate healthcare in the state of Texas goes against the values of our companies,” the letter states. “This policy creates fear for employees and their families, especially those with transgender children, who might now be faced with choosing to provide the best possible medical care for their children but risk having those children removed by child protective services for doing so.”
Read the complete Boston Business Journal story here.
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
