The bill, recently introduced in the state House, aims to amend existing identity theft laws to include the case of “gender identity fraud.”
Under the proposal, anyone who identifies with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth could be charged with a felony. This would essentially make it illegal for transgender and non-binary people to exist. The law, proposed by Republican lawmaker Tom Oliverson, carries penalties of up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. However, the bill is unlikely to pass, as it has yet to receive support and is not scheduled for a committee hearing.
However, the presence of this proposal has caused deep concern among members of the LGBTQ+ community and their advocates. Callie Butcher, founder of the Dallas law firm Butcher Legal Group, expressed her anguish, saying that such proposals reflect the current state of community rights in Texas. “These types of bills make me lose sleep,” Butcher said, according to the Chron. “They are part of a broader political agenda aimed at controlling gender expression and identity, particularly in official documents and athletic activities.”
Texas, like many other US states, has seen an explosion of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in recent years, with a focus on measures against transgender people. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 456 such proposals have been submitted since the beginning of 2025.
Butcher pointed out that the language of the bill implies that transgender people “deceive or misrepresent their identity to gain some advantage.” “This proposal goes too far and it’s something that deeply concerns me,” she added.
On social media, many users expressed their outrage. One transgender person wrote on Twitter: “Texas is trying to pass a bill that considers the existence of transgender people a fraud. It’s ridiculous. There is no fraud in being who you are. I’m not hiding, but I might have to start if they keep up this nonsense.”
This proposal follows another legislative initiative by Republican Brent Manny, which aims to completely ban gender-affirming care for all age groups in Texas. Texas HB339 would amend existing state laws, restricting hormone therapy, surgery and other forms of gender-affirming medical care. Healthcare professionals who provide such services would face criminal penalties.
