A Texas state bill, filed by Republican Tom Oliverson, could charge trans people with “gender identity fraud”, making it illegal to identify as trans on official documents and potentially leading up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
The bill would make it a state jail felony if a person “knowingly makes a false or misleading verbal or written statement” by identifying their sex assigned at birth incorrectly to a governmental entity or to their employer.
While unlikely to pass – the bill has no other co-sponsors – it is an example of legislation targeting trans people in the state of Texas.
In February, fellow Republican Brent Money filed a bill that would make it illegal for a health care provider to treat any patient, including adults, with puberty-suppressing medication, hormone therapy or surgeries if the purpose of the treatment is to affirm the patient’s gender identity.
Texas has provided a blueprint over the last decade for states that have sought to restrict trans rights, becoming in 2017 one of the first states to consider a “bathroom bill,” which would’ve barred trans people from using toilets that align with their gender identities.
So far this year, Texas lawmakers have introduced nearly 170 state bills targeting LGBTQ people, according to Equality Texas, a state LGBTQ+ advocacy group. These include a new “bathroom bill” supported by a majority of the Texas House.
