Federal Court Approves Florida Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
A federal appeals court has permitted Florida to enforce a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, overturning a lower court's decision that had blocked the law. The 2-1 ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta allows the state to continue implementing the 2023 law, which prohibits minors from being prescribed puberty blockers and hormonal treatments, regardless of parental consent. Additionally, the law mandates that transgender adults can only receive treatment from a doctor, not a registered nurse or other qualified medical practitioner.
The original ruling by a federal judge in June had deemed the restrictions unconstitutional, labeling them as discriminatory. However, the appeals court's decision means that the law will remain in effect while its legality is reviewed. Florida's attorneys argued that while the state cannot prevent individuals from pursuing a transgender identity, it can regulate medical care. This decision aligns with actions taken by at least 26 other states that have enacted similar laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for minors, most of which are currently subject to legal challenges. The challengers in Florida have the option to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
