On Mother’s Day, Beto O’Rourke carved out a special spot in his schedule to cook a lovely dinner for the Briggles family – who have been fighting for years for their transgender child.
O’Rourke showed up at their home with his hands full of groceries and got straight to work, not only on making delicious burgers but also on discussing an important subject the family is passionate about: trans rights.
Earlier in the year, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents of transgender children, saying gender-transitioning procedures or gender-affirming care could constitute as “child abuse.”
“Because the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is responsible for protecting children from abuse, I hereby direct your agency to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas,” read the governor’s letter.
A month later, the Briggles family told WFAA they were being actively investigated by CPS.
For O’Rourke the visit was a way to shine light on the Briggles story.
“If the most powerful man in the state of Texas is saying they are child abusers or bad people, I found they are the exact opposite,” said O’Rourke. “We need the people of Texas to support this family. Being here tonight and shining a light on their story helps them to live their best lives.”