A bill presented in the Texas legislature seeks to criminalize transgender Texans by introducing a new offense known as “gender identity fraud.” Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson of District 130 in Houston introduced House Bill 3817 to amend the Texas Penal Code in relation to gender identity fraud. The bill defines this offense as knowingly providing false or misleading information about one’s biological sex to a governmental entity or employer, which could result in a state felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. However, the bill is unlikely to pass, lacking co-sponsors and committee movement.
If enacted, this bill would prevent transgender individuals in Texas from disclosing their gender identity to employers and could affect interactions with law enforcement or government assistance programs. This proposal is just one in a series of anti-transgender measures in the state, including restrictions on changing gender markers on driver’s licenses and birth certificates.
The surge in anti-transgender legislation during the ongoing 89th Texas Legislative Session has seen nearly 100 such bills introduced, surpassing the total from the previous session. Rep. Oliverson has a history of sponsoring anti-trans bills, including one that banned gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, which was upheld by the state Supreme Court.
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