In a significant development for transgender health rights in Texas, Dallas-area physician Dr. May C. Lau has surrendered her Texas medical license after being sued by Attorney General Ken Paxton under the state’s controversial ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
The lawsuit, originally filed in October 2024, accused Dr. Lau of prescribing testosterone to at least 21 minors between the ages of 14 and 17 in violation of Senate Bill 14 (SB 14). The law took effect in September 2023 and prohibits gender-affirming medical interventions for minors. State records show Dr. Lau asked the Texas Medical Board to cancel her license earlier this month, which is now listed as “cancelled by request.”
In a statement celebrating the decision, Paxton called the outcome a “major victory for our state” and claimed that “doctors who permanently hurt kids by giving them experimental drugs are nothing more than disturbed left-wing activists who have no business being in the medical field.” Dr. Lau’s attorney, Craig Smyser, said his client maintains her innocence and called the lawsuit “politically and ideologically driven.” He also confirmed that Dr. Lau is moving her practice to Oregon and therefore sees no reason to maintain her Texas license.
RELATED: Texas AG Sues Doctor Over Gender-Affirming Care to Minors
What This Means for Trans Care in Texas
This case marks the first time a physician in Texas has surrendered a medical license under enforcement of SB 14, effectively making Dr. Lau the state’s first test case. Advocates say the impact on transgender youth and their families will be immediate and far-reaching.
Equality Texas, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, warned that the departure of providers from the state creates financial and logistical barriers for those seeking care, including adults who rely on the same networks for ongoing treatment. Medical groups such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to endorse gender-affirming care as safe, effective, and medically necessary for many transgender youth.
Legal and Broader Context
The lawsuit against Dr. Lau was one of several filed by Paxton’s office as part of a broader campaign targeting providers of gender-affirming care. A similar case against Dr. Hector M. Granados of El Paso was quietly dropped in September 2025 after he stopped offering related services. SB 14 mandates automatic license revocation for any physician found in violation, and the Texas Supreme Court upheld the law in June 2024.
The Bottom Line
For transgender youth in Texas, access to gender-affirming care is now both politically charged and legally threatened. The surrender of a doctor’s license sends a clear warning to other medical professionals: challenging the law could cost them their careers.
As more providers leave the state, care deserts are growing, and families are being forced to travel hundreds of miles or move across state lines for essential treatment. Advocates and allies continue to fight back through community support, legal challenges, and education.
Healthcare is not a privilege. It is a basic human right. And for every transgender youth in Texas wondering if someone will still care for them, the answer remains yes, the community always will.
