Gregory Wayne Abbott (born November 13, 1957) is an American attorney who has served as the 48th governor of Texas since January 20, 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Abbott previously served as the 50th attorney general of Texas from 2002 to 2015. He is the third governor of any U.S. state to permanently use a wheelchair. He is also the first disabled governor in Texas history.
Texas Trans Girl Is Finalist for Time's Kid of the Year
finalist for Time’s Kid of the Year.Kai Shappley of Austin testified before a Texas Senate committee last April when two bills banning gender-affirming care for young people were under consideration; one would even have classified providing such care as child abuse.“I love ballet, math, science, and geology,” she told the committee by way of introduction. “I spend my free time with my cats, chickens, FaceTiming my friends, and dreaming of when I finally get to meet Dolly Parton.
I do not like spending my free time asking adults to make good choices.”“It makes me sad that some politicians use trans kids like me to get votes from people who hate me just because I exist,” she went on. “God made me.
God loves me for who I am. And God does not make mistakes.”Video of Shappley’s testimony quickly went viral. The bills did not ultimately pass, although Texas legislators did later approve a bill barring trans student athletes from participating in sports under their gender identity, and Gov.
Greg Abbott signed it into law.Shappley is no stranger to the public eye. She had met with state and national lawmakers previously and spoken at many rallies, although last year’s appearance at the Texas Senate marked the first time she’d testified to legislators on her own; she had usually been accompanied by her mother.
