Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14, banning minors from receiving gender-affirming care, into law on June 2. The bill prohibits transgender youth from receiving hormones and puberty blockers and takes effect on Sept. 1.

Texas joins 17 other states in restricting medical care for young transgender patients. Before signing the bill, Abbott told Fox News it was “no secret” he would sign it because he believes those under 18 “don’t have the mental capacity to make a life-changing decision.” But some advocacy groups that oppose the bill are seeking to challenge it before it takes effect.

Among those advocates is Anna Mae Justice, a member of the leadership board for Austin Queer Connection. She says the organization works in the community to keep the youth educated on recent political impacts.

“We host this thing called Austin Queer Coalition, which is a monthly gathering of all the community leaders of businesses, organizations, social groups, stuff like that,” Justice said. “We all come together to discuss current issues of concern and ways we can support each other. And one of the ways that we do that is we collaborate on issues that we feel would be helpful to work together on.”

Hayden Williams, the founder of Austin Queer Connection, said the group works with queer youth, including UT students, to facilitate socials because of what he calls a “huge void” in queer spaces in Austin other than bars and clubs. Williams said he founded Austin Queer Connection in 2019 out of a need for the community and to provide outreach for queer youth. 

Williams said that although the growing visibility of queer people might make some uncomfortable, this visibility is imperative for queer youth. 

“When queer youth are told that you can’t be yourself, you can’t be genuine, you cannot express yourself in a genuine way, that’s damaging,” Williams said. “Whenever you tell youth in general that you cannot be genuine, you cannot be authentic, that’s damaging.”

In response to the bill’s passing, several organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Transgender Law Center, said they will work to fight the law in court.

Justice said passing bills like SB 14 scares people and puts transgender youths’ lives at risk.

“I personally have seen what it’s like when people aren’t able to get that gender-affirming care,” Justice said. “And how much it damaged their mental health and their physical health and how dangerous it is.”