This is the waves. This is the waves. This is the waves. This is the waves. This is the waves.

Welcome to the waves. Slates podcast about gender, feminism, and messing with Texas.

Every episode you get a new pair of feminists to talk about the thing we can't get off our minds,

and today you've got me, Evan Irkhardt. I'm a writer on video gaming and trans issues,

and the community manager for Slate. And I'm Jules Gil Peterson. I'm a trans historian and

writer as well as a co-host of the outward podcast here at Slate. And we're here today to talk about

the Texas governor's directive to treat gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth as child abuse.

This topic hits so close to home because as someone who's been a foster parent for queer youth,

I've had close dealings with the world of child welfare. And the idea that trans youth could be

taken from supportive homes and put into the system with the intent of removing support for their

identities as well as removing necessary medical interventions is just absolutely horrific for me.

And I know a lot of people are feeling the same way. So, Jules, why did you want to talk about this?

Well, you know, about a year ago when this kind of unprecedented wave of anti-trans legislation

that we're still experiencing really started ramping up its attacks on kids, you know, I began

writing and advocating alongside so many other tireless trans folks like yourself. And I've

also been working to try to understand the political context and stakes of these assaults so that we

don't lose sight of the real scale of the threat. But like you this time in Texas, it hit me hard.

I've really never seen such a violent disinformation laden and authoritarian policy directed at

trans kids before. And the effects that this is already having are nothing short of horror.

I agree with you. I really think we have to be talking about this and it may be a decisive turning

point. I really worry that if we don't collectively reverse this situation and say not this enough,

that we're going to be picking up the pieces for a lifetime. I share those concerns and we'll have

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