As a therapist dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ clients, particularly those navigating trauma and marginalization, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the emotional weight many of us are carrying in response to the passage of Texas House Bill 229.
HB 229, passed by the legislature and awaiting Governor Greg Abbott's signature, legally defines "sex" strictly based on reproductive anatomy—classifying individuals as male or female according to their capacity to produce or fertilize ova. This binary framework mandates that all state agencies, including those managing birth certificates, marriage licenses, and public health data, recognize only these two categories, effectively erasing legal recognition of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex identities.
This legislation, which seeks to limit the ability of trans, non-binary, and intersex people—especially youth—to live authentically and safely, sends a message that is not only politically charged but profoundly personal. Whether or not you reside in Texas, the ripple effect of this bill can feel like yet another blow in a series of systemic attacks on our community.
If you’re feeling exhausted, afraid, angry, or numb—your response is valid.
What HB 229 Represents
HB 229 is more than policy—it’s a signal. A signal that our identities, our bodies, and our right to exist are being debated in public forums and legislated by people who may not understand our lived realities. For trans, non-binary, and intersex Texans, it may feel like being asked to justify your existence again and again.
But I want to be very clear: your existence needs no justification. You are valid. You are necessary. You are loved.
Guidance and Grounding in Hard Times
If you’re struggling right now, I invite you to take a moment to breathe. Feel your feet on the ground. Tune into your body. Your nervous system may be activated, especially if you’ve experienced trauma or systemic harm in the past. That’s a survival response—not a flaw.
Here are a few ways to tend to your mental health in this moment:
· Limit your exposure to distressing news. Stay informed but give yourself permission to unplug.
· Stay connected. Whether it's a friend, a partner, or an affirming therapist, connection is an antidote to isolation.
· Validate your feelings. There’s no “right” way to respond to systemic injustice.
· Engage in affirming rituals. This could be queer art, mutual aid, a favorite video game, prayer, or a community space.
· Rest. Rest is resistance. You don’t need to earn your right to pause.
Mental Health Support That Honors Who You Are
If you are looking for a safe, affirming space to process what you’re feeling, I am here. I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ clients—including trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals and relationships—around issues of trauma, identity, and community. My work is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and a belief in your inherent worth.
You do not need to walk through this alone. Therapy can be a place where your truth is held with care—not questioned. If working with me isn’t accessible or right for you at this time, here are additional mental health resources offering support:
· Trans Lifeline – (877) 565-8860 – Peer support run by and for trans people.
· The Trevor Project – Text START to 678-678 or call (866) 488-7386 – Support for LGBTQ+ youth.
· InterACT – interactadvocates.org – Advocacy and resources for intersex youth.
· LGBT National Help Center – (888) 843-4564 – Free and confidential peer support.
We Keep Us Safe
Policy can attempt to erase or restrict us, but it cannot extinguish our brilliance, our resilience, or our community. Mutual aid networks, chosen family, radical rest, and compassionate therapy are all ways we resist and rebuild.
HB 229 is not the final word. Our lives continue. Our joy matters. And our stories are still unfolding—with courage, with care, and with each other.
If you're a fellow mental health professional, now is the time to deepen our collective care. Center trans, non-binary, and intersex voices. Offer your solidarity not just in words, but in how we show up—in our practices, our advocacy, and our everyday choices.
You are not alone. You are not too much. You are worthy of love, safety, and peace.
With you in solidarity and care,
Corey