Federal Judge Issues Ruling over Transgender Medical Treatments for Children

In a ruling on Tuesday, Judge Robert Hinkle, a federal judge based in Tallahassee, struck down substantial parts of Florida’s ban on transgender medical interventions for minors.

The judge asserted that “gender identity is real” and that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones are part of a “widely accepted standard of care.”

The decision comes just over a year after Florida enacted a ban on these hormonal transgender medical treatments for children in May of the previous year,” the Daily Wire reports.

In his order, Judge Hinkle stated, “The state of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment — treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the state’s full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patient’s transgender identity.”

The ruling also nullified two aspects of the ban that applied to adults. The law had mandated that adults consult with a physician in person before initiating cross-sex hormone therapy and stipulated that hormone treatments for adults “may not be prescribed, administered, or performed except by a physician.”

The legal challenge to Florida’s ban was brought forth by three families and several LGBT organizations, who argued that the law infringed upon parents’ rights to make medical decisions for their transgender children.

In response to the ruling, Governor Ron DeSantis’ office has announced its intention to appeal. Julia Friedland, the governor’s deputy press secretary, issued a statement expressing their disagreement with the court’s findings on the law, facts, and science surrounding the issue.

“As we’ve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror,” Friedland stated.