Texas Bill Relating to Consideration of a Child’s Gender Identity in Custody Hearings (SB 2369)

This law was last updated on Mar 9, 2019

State

Texas

Number

SB 2369

Status

Proposed

Mar 8, 2019

Topics

Anti-Transgender, LGBTQ

Full Bill Text

capitol.texas.gov

SB 2369 would prohibit a court from considering evidence regarding whether a party seeking custody of a child demonstrates a history or pattern of acknowledging or declining to acknowledge the child’s gender identity or expression.

The bill would prohibit a court from ordering the termination of a parent-child relationship based on evidence that the parent acknowledges or declines to acknowledge the child’s gender identity or expression.

The bill defines “gender identity or expression” to mean:

[…]having or being perceived as having a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior, regardless of whether that identity, appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that commonly associated with the individual ’s actual or perceived sex.

The bill would amend state law regarding investigations of child abuse or neglect to clarify that the term “abuse” does not include a person’s willingness or unwillingness to acknowledge a child’s gender identity or expression.

Related Legislation

Companion bill to HB 1910.

Latest Action

3/8/19 – Introduced.