The Florida Board of Medicine and the state Board of Osteopathic Medicine voted at a joint meeting in Lake Buena Vista to finalize rules governing gender-affirming health care for minors. The rule is set to go into effect after a week-long public comment period. The ban comes as DeSantis and Republicans in other states move to limit access to the treatments for minors, often labeling them medically unproven and potentially dangerous in the long term, another political battle against liberal ideologies. Many doctors, mental health experts and medical groups have argued that treatments for transgender youth are safe and beneficial, although rigorous long-term research is lacking. Federal health officials have described gender-affirming care as vital to the health and well-being of transgender children and adolescents. DeSantis has made criticism of such juvenile treatments a regular part of his re-election campaign, often referring to the procedures in graphic terms during rallies and speeches. The new policy, finalized just days before the election, marks another example of DeSantis’ ability to harness the power of government to achieve controversial policy goals, bolstering his national reputation as a combative GOP culture warrior.
Puberty arresters, surgeries are prohibited
The rule prohibits doctors from prescribing puberty blockers, hormones, and hormone antagonists to treat gender dysphoria in minors. Prohibits sex reassignment surgery or other surgeries that change primary or secondary sexual characteristics in minors. “Today’s vote by the Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine will protect our children from irreversible surgeries and highly experimental treatments,” said Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. “I appreciate the integrity of the Boards for deciding in the best interest of Florida children despite facing enormous pressure to allow these unproven and dangerous treatments. “Kids deserve to learn how to navigate this world without harmful pressure, and Florida will continue to fight for them to be kids,” she said. Florida health officials banned state Medicaid insurance coverage for gender dysphoria treatments this year and issued a report saying the treatments have not been proven safe or effective. After the report was published, Ladapo, a DeSantis appointee, called for new rules around the treatments. Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis has made criticism of gender-affirming treatments for minors a regular part of his re-election campaign, often referring to the procedures in graphic terms during rallies and speeches. (Julia Nikhinson/The Associated Press) Florida has also clashed with federal health officials who support providing the treatments for youth. Gender-affirming health care for youth has been a Republican target in recent years. Last year, the American Medical Association issued a letter urging governors to block any legislation banning the treatment, calling such action a “dangerous intrusion into the practice of medicine.”
It follows bans in Arkansas, Alabama
Arkansas was the first state to enact such a ban on gender-affirming care, with Republican lawmakers in 2021 overriding Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto of the legislation. Alabama Republicans passed legislation this year to ban gender-affirming drugs for transgender youth. Both laws have stalled amid ongoing legal battles. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, signed a bill last month barring the use of federal funds earmarked for the University of Oklahoma Medical Center for gender reassignment treatments for minors. Stitt also asked the Legislature to ban some of these sex-change treatments statewide when it returns in February. Top Tennessee Republicans have also vowed to push for tough anti-trans policies. The state already prohibits doctors from providing sex-affirming hormone therapy to minor pre-adolescents. To date, no one has legally challenged the law, as medical experts say no doctor in Tennessee does. In Florida, DeSantis signed a law last year barring transgender girls and women from playing on public school teams reserved for student-athletes who identify as girls at birth.
