Judge temporarily blocks parts of Florida law that bans puberty blockers for minors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, (FLV) – A federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers, ruling that the state has “no rational basis for denying patients treatment,” according to reports.
Three families filed the lawsuit that argues they are being stripped of the right to make medical decisions for their children.
AP News reported Federal Judge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction, saying three transgender children can continue receiving treatment.
“The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear,” the judge said.
“The court addressed the specific question in front of it, but also issued a very strong ruling that says the bans are unlikely to survive constitutional scrutiny,” Jennifer Levi, lawyer for the plaintiffs reportedly said.
“The power of the ruling is to make clear that the law is unconstitutional,” Levi said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to ban sex reassignment surgeries and medications for minors in May.
Prohibited medications include cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers, which some doctors have used to treat gender dysphoria.
For the minors already receiving medications such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones prior to the bill becoming law, their fate would be up to the Board of Medicine.
Following the bill becoming law, the Board of Medicine would have 60 days to come up with emergency rules on whether minors can still use the drugs.
State funds are prohibited from being used for these treatments. This includes state counties, municipalities, districts and commissions.
Physicians are required to receive written informed consent from adults receiving the surgeries or prescriptions.
The governor said the law also gives the Florida courts temporary jurisdiction to intervene and halt procedures for out-of-state children.
The Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine at a joint meeting approved rules in 2022 banning these treatments for those under the age of 18.
