'It’s a gamble to stay': Families of transgender children consider fleeing Texas as state further restricts gender-affirming care, trans rights

TEXAS — Families are fleeing home to protect their children. These aren't refugees from war-torn countries, they're Texans. Since the Texas Legislature passed numerous laws restricting trans rights, families have considered moving out of state.

Spectrum News 1 has learned after Gov. Greg Abbott's directive to investigate gender-affirming care for trans children as child abuse, even more families are planning to say goodbye to their home state.

We've spoken to nonprofit groups and transgender community members who connected us to families that are considering moving, in the process of moving or have already moved. From what we've heard, those numbers are in the dozens, but most likely include more. And depending on what happens next, it could get much worse.

Most of the families and advocates we've spoken to did not want to be on camera, until now. We are not using last names in this story to protect families.

Meet Sunny. She loves roller skating, puzzles, cracking jokes and hanging out with her younger brother, Bodhi. She just turned 9-years-old and Bodhi just turned 7. Their mother, Rebekah, is a seventh-generation Texan. She grew up on Galveston Island. Chet is a self-proclaimed "true American dad" from South Carolina.

"My name is Chet. I'm a bro though and through," he said.

It is clear to see they're a loving, supportive family — just ask Sunny.

"Definitely," she said. "Thumbs up, yes."

They're a typical Texas family. Houston is their home, and they just bought a house in October. But they might not be here for much longer, all because their daughter was born a son.

"It's a gamble to stay," Chet said.

Sunny officially came out as transgender when she was around 4 years old.

"She was very upset and she said, ‘Why did you make me a boy? I wanted to be a girl,'" Rebekah said.

Even though Rebekah and Chet are supportive, it wasn't an easy transition, for Chet especially. Even now, he has moments where he struggles, but they love Sunny for who she is.

"People think like, oh you know, she [Sunny] said, ‘I wanna be a girl.' No, it wasn't like that at all. This was over a long time," Chet said.

In most ways, Sunny is like any other kid. Except, this third-grader has a lot more experience in the spotlight than most adults.

She's spoken in front of crowds, in legislative sessions and attended rallies and protests. U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia honored Sunny with an award for her contributions to the community.

Sunny's gender-affirming care consists of changing her pronouns, her name, clothing and her hair. She's proud of who she is and is not afraid to say so.

"I'm a happy kid. I'm confident," Sunny said.

The family has been publicly fighting against anti-trans legislation since Sunny transitioned.

"We weren't involved politically until — honestly, until our family and our child was attacked," Rebekah said.

Even after Texas banned trans kids from playing sports, they stayed. But Gov. Abbott's directive to investigate gender-affirming care as child abuse forced them to reconsider.

"I can't be a good mother if I'm in jail," Rebekah said. "And I can't be here mother if she's not in my home."

And they're not the only ones.

"There's at least four or five families that are actively leaving," Rebekah said.