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‘I just want us to be alone.’ LGBTQ voters rank abortion and trans issues among top concerns

Harry October 30, 2024

KERA spent the election season talking to voters in North Texas about the issues most on their minds as they plan to vote.

Voters who are part of the LGBTQ+ community said their top issues are access to gender-affirming care for minors and abortion.

Both are effectively banned in Texas. More than a dozen states, including Texas illegal abortion in almost every case.

Around two dozen statesSome states, including Texas, ban gender-affirming care for people under 18. State’s Attorney Ken Paxton recently North Texas man sues doctor for allegedly providing hormone therapy to minors after the state’s ban goes into effect on September 1, 2023.

Many major health associations endorse age-appropriate gender therapy for minors as methods of treating gender dysphoria. Endocrine Society usually recommend Hormone therapy after a minor child may give informed consent to medical treatment (usually considered around age 16).

But opponents oppose research surrounding the effects of treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, arguing that children are too young to make life-changing decisions about their bodies.

Both abortion and transgender rights were major topics of discussion in this year’s elections at both the state and federal levels. Here’s what some voters in North Texas are saying.

Mariana Teran, Fort Worth

“Feeling out of control over my body probably worries me the most. Not just abortion in general, but what happens if you need an abortion for health reasons? “It’s definitely something I think about all the time.”

Kate Kalivoda, Mansfield

Kate Kalivoda of Mansfield poses in a white button-down shirt. She sports a short haircut and poses in front of a tree. — Kate Kalivoda said she is concerned about the outlook on issues like abortion and marriage equality and how both parties are handling debates about the LGBTQ community. “Instead of excluding and creating a situation where we say they are flawed as human beings, I think we need to get to the human aspect of the issue,” he said.

“I think for me (my key issues) are a lot of the same issues that other people worry about, things like housing and food costs, of course, knowing a little bit about the economy and the different presidential candidates.’ Plans for the economy and how that’s short term, in terms of our national debt or our taxes.” I’m very, very interested in what it might look like mid-term and long-term, but I’m also very interested in how each party and each candidate’s policies will impact certain aspects of our personal freedoms and autonomy as Americans, and abortion and women’s right to choose is a very important issue to me. “And I’m concerned about the Supreme Court decision in recent years overturning Roe that might have some kind of significant problem with Wade.”

Jillian Moran, Fort Worth

Jillian Moran of Fort Worth poses in a pink floral top and red glasses. — Jillian Moran, Roe v. He said he was concerned about the overturning of the Wade case and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s recent policy change that prevents people from changing the gender on their driver’s license.

“The issue that’s on my mind the most right now, as I’m a transgender woman, is transgender rights and the lies that are told about children. But at the same time, these will be the same stories. They’re starting to use it for adults, and they’re trying to ban care for everyone, not just children. Nobody sends their child to school and says transgender , is not returning with a gender-swapped child.” …

“You know what I want to see? I want to see abortion rights back on the ballot. I want to be able to go to Austin and not have to worry about not being able to replace my driver’s license. I’m going to get arrested, I just want us to be alone.”

Justin Galloway,Arlington

Justin Galloway of Arlington poses in his blue Fort Worth hat and blue shirt. He has a brown beard. — Justin Galloway said he does not support puberty blockers or gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth. This problem led him to change his party affiliation over the years.

“As a gay man, LGBT issues are important to me, especially gender ideology. After being pretty liberal on that issue for almost 20 years, I tend to be a little more conservative now. The tides have kind of turned towards children, and that’s where the gender ideology of the far left is, children’s transition and I became a little more opposed to some of the places that I felt were dealing with puberty blockers and high school sports.”

Kailey Broussard is KERA’s health correspondent. Got a clue? Email Kailey at: [email protected].

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