DeSantis Administration Reportedly Urges Ban on Gender Transition Treatments for Minors

June 3, 2022     Updated 1:00 P.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) –  Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration urged the state board regulating doctors to ban gender transition treatment for minors, according to a letter NBC obtained. 

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo sent a letter to the Florida Board of Medicine Thursday after Florida Medicaid released a report supporting a ban on Medicaid coverage for transition treatments.

That report said there is “weak evidence” supporting the use of puberty suppression, cross-sex hormones, and surgical procedures compared to “stronger research” showing the “permananent effects” they cause. 

The state health department’s letter asked the board to establish a standard of care for these “irreversible procedures” based on reports declaring these treatments are “experimental” and are not accepted professional medical standards. 

“The current standards set by numerous professional organizations appear to follow a preferred political ideology instead of the highest level of generally accepted medical science,” Ladapo said. “Florida must do more to protect children from politics-based medicine. Otherwise, children and adolescents in our state will continue to face a substantial risk of long-term harm.” 

In April, Ladapo sent out guidelines to deter families from giving their children gender-affirming care to treat gender dysphoria. The state’s guidelines are in response to the Biden Administration’s guidelines encouraging gender-affirming care for young people. 

Some health care professionals have said transition-related care helps transgender children who are at an increased risk of suicide.