LEGISLATURE PASSES BAN ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR YOUTH

Christiana Lilly

Abill banning medical treatment of transgender youth — and allowing the state to take custody of them — is on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk after passing the Florida Senate on May 4.

SB 254, which was introduced by FL Sen. Clay Yarborough (R), passed 26-13. It passed the House of Representatives 83-28.

The bill grants Florida courts “temporary emergency jurisdiction” for children younger than 18 who have been “subjected to or threatened with being subjected to sex reassignment prescriptions or procedures.” The state could take physical custody of the child, calling the treatment of gender dysphoria “serious physical harm.”

In addition, there are impacts on transgender adults, as the bill also prohibits use of state funds, including state insurance programs, for “sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures.” Meanwhile, this week Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a bill requiring Medicaid to cover gender- affirming treatment.

Should DeSantis sign the bill, it would go into effect immediately.

“Equitable access to healthcare is a basic human right, yet the passage of SB 254 further codifies and sanctions discrimination against our already marginalized transgender and gender diverse community,” Nic Zantop, the deputy director of TransInclusive, told SFGN. “In a state touted by the governor as the freest in the nation, gender identity should never be a determining factor in who deserves access to essential healthcare. Legislation can never erase trans existence.”