A federal judge in Florida has ruled that the state government's rules regarding the treatment of transgender children are unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled against the state's regulations in his 105-page ruling, in which he said restricting children's access to transgender procedures was an act of “animus.”
“Gender identity is real,” wrote Hinkle, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. “Those whose gender identity does not match their natal sex often experience gender dysphoria. Widely accepted standards of care require appropriate assessment and treatment.”
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during a press conference at the Greater Miami Expressway Agency. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The federal judge continued: “For juveniles, this means assessment and treatment by a multidisciplinary team. Appropriate treatment begins with mental health therapy and is followed, in appropriate cases, by GnRH agonists and cross-sex hormones – in this order referred to as gender. Florida has passed a law and rules that prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, even when medically appropriate.
DeSantis signed SB 254 last year, banning anyone under 18 from undergoing gender reassignment surgery or taking cross-sex hormones to treat gender dysphoria.
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READ THE JUDGE’S ORDER – APP USERS, CLICK HERE:
The bill passed both houses of the Florida state legislature before DeSantis' final approval.
Jeremy Redfern, DeSantis' press secretary, told Fox News Digital that the Florida government plans to appeal the decision.
“Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect this state's children, and the Court was wrong to override their wishes. We disagree with the Court's erroneous decisions on law, facts and science,” he said. said in a statement Tuesday.
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A huge multi-colored flag flies along Ocean Drive as people participate in a pride parade during the Miami Beach Pride Festival, in Lummus Park, South Beach, Florida. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)
Redfern continued: “As we have seen here in Florida, the UK and across Europe, there is no high-quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures cause permanent damage that alters children's lives, and history I will look back on this fad with horror. »
He concluded: “Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida will continue to fight to ensure that children are not chemically or physically mutilated in the name of a radical, new age “gender ideology.” We will appeal this decision.”