In his ruling on Tuesday, District Judge Robert Hinkle said the bans and restrictions were “unconstitutional,” with the judge claiming that the state “can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment.”
“Gender identity is real,” the judge said. “Those whose gender identity does not match their natal sex often suffer gender dysphoria. The widely accepted standard of care calls for appropriate evaluation and treatment.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office told media on Tuesday that the governor plans to appeal the decision.
“Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the court was wrong to override their wishes,” a DeSantis spokesman said. “We disagree with the court’s erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science.”
A growing number of doctors and lawmakers are calling for increased regulation over transgender procedures, particularly those performed on children.
Top medical groups and physicians recently signed a “Doctors Protecting Children” declaration that expressed “serious concerns” about the treatment of minors who are uncomfortable with their biological sex, with doctors calling upon the medical industry to “respect biological reality and the dignity of the person” rather than engage in extreme experimental procedures.
Other states including South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama have passed various bans on transgender procedures for children. Countries in Europe including England and Scotland, meanwhile, have pulled back on allowing those procedures to be performed on minors.
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