The past few years have seen a flurry of proposals to restrict the rights of transgender people, especially children, across the United States. One of the most brutal just went into effect in Texas despite failing in the state legislature.

On February 18, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton published a “legal opinion” that gender-affirming medical treatment for anyone under eighteen constitutes child abuse under existing Texas law. It also compared the growing acceptance of gender transition to the opioid epidemic. Immediately, Governor Greg Abbott issued orders to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate the doctors and parents of minors receiving gender-affirming treatment for child abuse. Abbott threatened criminal prosecution for any teacher, doctor, nurse, or member of the public who fails to turn in the parents of a transitioning minor.

Pushback began immediately. One of the first targets for investigation was Jane Doe, a DFPS employee with a sixteen-year-old trans daughter. She was put on leave from her job, and two days later, DFPS showed up at her home on the sole charge that she’d supported her daughter’s transition. The Doe family has sued with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, and on Wednesday, they won an injunction, blocking the state from pursuing them while the legal battle continues. (Another hearing March 11 will determine if this protection will be extended to other Texans.) Five district attorneys immediately stated their refusal to prosecute these cases because they believe the order is unconstitutional, and the Austin school board told school staff to tell families they will not be reported.