A federal judge overturned Tuesday portions of Florida’s law restricting the use of “gender-affirming care” in children. He declared several statutes concerning puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and surgeries unconstitutional.
This law was designed to stop medical facilities from prescribing irreversible “gender-affirming treatments” to young children. Studies have shown that these treatments not only are ineffective but can also be harmful to those with gender dysphoria. A judge ruled the measure unconstitutional.
A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that several Florida laws prohibiting such medical care are unconstitutional.
Ron DeSantis was the Republican governor who was the principal proponent of the law. Ron DeSantis has made Florida the most restrictive state in the nation for transgender healthcare.
In his opinion, Judge Robert L. Hinkle of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, stated that “Transgender opponents are of course entitled to their own beliefs.” They cannot discriminate against transgender individuals because of their gender identity. As misogyny and racism decline, so too will transgender discrimination.
Hinkle stated, “The State of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot deny safe and effective medical treatment to transgender patients — treatments using medications that routinely are provided to other patients with full state approval so long as the medication is not intended to confirm the patient’s identification as transgender. ”
The judge said that “Discrimination towards transgenders will diminish over time, just as racism and misogyny have diminished.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the ruling by referring to European nations that abandoned the gender-affirming model after numerous research studies exposed its shortcomings.
In the statement, it was stated that the “people of Florida took action through their elected officials to protect the children in this state. The Court erred when they overruled their wishes.” “As we’ve seen in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no solid evidence to support chemical or physical mutilation. This procedure causes permanent and life-altering damage to children. This fad will be remembered with horror by history.”
Florida’s lawyers admitted during the trial that while the state can regulate medical treatments, it cannot prevent someone from pursuing a transgender identity.
This same judge issued an injunction on the law in June 2023. He argued that “Gender Identity Is Real” and that “There is and continues to exist substantial bigotry against transgender individuals.”
This is a big issue. One would hope that there are opponents to bigotry wherever bigotry exists. Doctors who support transgender people and who offer medical care are not surprised by anti-transgender prejudice.
Julia Friedland, deputy press secretary for Gov. DeSantis, said in a release that the court “wrongly” overruled the legislation voted by residents to “protect children”.
Sunshine State is one of 25 states that have passed laws prohibiting “gender-affirming child care”. Other states have challenged these laws.
