Texas social workers can turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability.

The Texas government reversed a judgment made on October 27, and now social workers cannot refuse services to LGBTQ or disabled people.

The Texas government reversed a judgment made on October 27, and now social workers cannot refuse services to LGBTQ or disabled people.In early October 2020, a Texas regulatory board voted in favor of Governor Greg Abbott's direction to eliminate discrimination protections on social services. The protections had previously prohibited social workers from refusing clients based on their disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The regulatory board actioned this direction without consulting any social workers.

On October 23, lawmakers and advocates railed against the Texas regulatory board's decision. They also previewed a bipartisan bill they planned to file on those promoting anti-discrimination protections. On October 27, 2020, the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council voted unanimously to restore protections for social workers' LGBTQ and disabled clients after reaction from advocates and lawmakers.