On Thursday, December 28, Florida lawmakers passed a new bill penalizing doctors who perform gender-altering or sex-change surgery on children.
The move succeeds the prior gender-affirming medical care ban for transgender youth signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R).
DeSantis said, “This will permanently outlaw the mutilation of minors.”
“I mean they’re trying to do sex change operations on minors, giving them puberty blockers and doing things that are irreversible to them.”
This law also requires adult patients who seek trans health care to present and sign an informed consent form.
Many GOP members slam gender-affirming care, claiming it is dangerous and experimental. Some even compared it with chemical castration or child abuse.
Furthermore, doctors who provide gender reassignment to minor patients will lose their licenses and could face a third-degree felony.
This law was immediately challenged by families in court. However, the preliminary order by US District Judge Robert Hinkle only applies to three transgender children and healthcare providers.
Lawyer Mohammad Jazil, representing the state, explained the law intends to protect the people.
Jazil cited a case where a person was immediately prescribed gender-altering hormones after a 30-minute telehealth conversation. Others have decided to stop transitioning and go back to their birth sex and were not informed that this treatment had already caused permanent damage on their bodies.
Florida medical licensing boards had previously adopted bans on gender-affirming care for minors in March.
Senate Bill 254 was one of the anti-transgender laws approved by DeSantis. The law allows the state to intervene and remove a child from their home if they are confirmed to be using gender-affirming treatments or procedures.
Another law banned teachers, students and faculty from using pronouns of their choice other than the sexual orientation indicated on one’s birth certificate.
The governor also signed a separate bill prohibiting children from watching an “adult live performance”, particularly “drag shows.
Additionally, another approved law disallows transgenders from using a bathroom that doesn’t match their biological sex.
DeSantis further said, “A woman should not be in a locker room, having to worry about someone from the opposite sex being in their locker room.”
The bill also defined what is female and male. According to the bill, a female is “a person belonging, at birth, to the biological sex which has the specific reproductive role of producing eggs” while a male is “a person belonging, at birth, to the biological sex which has the specific reproductive role of producing sperm.”
It’s about time someone stopped parents or partners 😡 from deciding what gender their child should be!!!
Good to hear that Doctors can be prosecuted for sex change surgeries on children. A child has no business making that kind of decision about their bodies. I have read where those who have done this is sorry.
Excellent work by Governor DeSantis! These degenerates (litetally) MUST be stopped from corrupting and harming our youth.