"They want to deprive (my daughter Sunny) of her future rights to receive care," said the 38-year-old entertainment technician as she watched her children collect their chickens' eggs after a school day.

In a letter dated February 22, Republican Governor Greg Abbott ordered his administration to "promptly and thoroughly investigate any reported cases" of such treatment of minors in the context of gender transitions, and recalled that penal sanctions were provided for against teachers, doctors or nurses who did not denounce them.

On March 4, the largest pediatric hospital in the United States, Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, declared a "pause" in these treatments "in order to protect health professionals and families from possible criminal prosecution".

Sunny Bryant in his room in Houston, Texas, March 4, 2022 Francois PICARD AFP

Texas Child Protective Services has launched several investigations against parents of transgender children, but an Austin judge on Friday decided to suspend them, ruling the directive unconstitutional.

Several local prosecutors had previously indicated that they did not comply with the governor's orders, considering them illegal.

President Biden for his part considered that "the discriminatory actions of the State of Texas put the lives of children in danger" and that "children, their parents and their doctors must have the freedom to make the best medical decisions for these children. young people without being hindered by politicians".

More time

Several dozen legislative texts around transgender minors have already been debated in the state parliament to, among other things, equate their hormonal treatments with abuse or deprive the doctors who prescribe them of insurance.

Tired, the Bryant family decided a year ago to come out with their story and go to the Texas Capitol in Austin, to beg the congressmen to leave them alone.

Rebekah Bryant outside her home in Houston, Texas, March 4, 2022 Francois PICARD AFP

Hormonal treatments, the ban of which is debated, are only administered in adolescence and do not yet concern Sunny, who will celebrate her nine years in April.

Prescribed and supervised by doctors, they are intended to block puberty.

For Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, "there is insufficient medical evidence to demonstrate that stopping these treatments allows a normal resumption of puberty".

He believes they can create "mental or emotional injury" constituting abuse.

Sunny "doesn't need medical intervention right now. All she needs is acceptance and love," says Rebekah Bryant.

Republican Governor of Texas Greg Abbott at a campaign event in Houston on February 23, 2022 Brandon Bell GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

"But if she goes through male puberty, she won't be able to reverse the change in her forehead or the appearance of an Adam's apple and facial hair without dangerous and expensive surgeries," she said. -she, before pleading: "these puberty blockers give the child more time" to decide on his gender identity.

"Proud to be trans"

Coming from a very conservative background in South Carolina, her husband, Chet, also reluctantly accepted this celebrity.

"I don't like it, that's for sure. What's the point of saying if my child is wearing a dress or pants? (…) It only matters for political reasons", he confides in a calm but determined tone when he receives AFP in his living room in Houston.

Rebekah Bryant says elected Republicans "know they can mobilize their base and get them to vote if they believe they're going to save poor kids."

"They want Texas to stay Republican. But Texas is slowly changing," she continues.

Chet Bryant, in his house in Houston, Texas, March 4, 2022 Francois PICARD AFP

“It is only for political reasons that transgender children are targeted,” confirms from Congress in Washington the elected Democrat of Houston Sylvia Garcia.

In their personal or professional life, Rebekah Bryant's family claims to have received nothing but support.

"I feel good and proud to be trans" says Sunny, smiling and fulfilled.

Sitting cross-legged on her bed, long hair over her shoulders, she specifies: “I am not anxious about how people perceive me”.

Sunny is already "such a voice, such a strong voice for the children of the state and the country… Imagine what she can do when she reaches her full potential at 18. I hope Abbott and Paxton are ready for it", concludes Sylvia Garcia.

Contacted by AFP, the services of the governor and the attorney general of Texas did not respond to requests for interviews.

© 2022 AFP