Judge Hinkle Rules 2023 Florida Ban on Gender-Affirming Care Unconstitutional

Jun 11, 2024, 06:05 PM

A federal judge has ruled that Florida's ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors and many of its restrictions on similar care for adults are unconstitutional. The ruling strikes down a significant policy initiative of Governor Ron DeSantis. The judge emphasized that the state cannot prohibit transgender minors from receiving widely accepted gender-affirming medical treatments. Additionally, the decision invalidates the ban on nurse practitioners prescribing cross-sex hormones to transgender adults, a common practice for administering such medication. The judgment underscores that the restrictions were rooted in anti-trans animus and affirms the reality of gender identity. This ruling pertains to a 2023 law and was delivered by Judge Hinkle.