Judge finds DeSantis’ ban on transgender care unconstitutional

“Florida has adopted statutes and rules that prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, even if it is medically necessary,” Hinkle wrote. “The ban is unconstitutional.”

The decision on a lawsuit filed by parents of transgender children and adults was hailed by many in the LGBTQ community as a significant victory. An increasing number of states prohibit gender reassignment guardianship of minors. However, Florida’s law was the first to restrict adult guardianship.

Under the regulations, nurses were not allowed to prescribe hormones to transgender adults. Although doctors could provide care for transgender adults, a shortage of doctors meant most were unable to find anyone to treat them. Some left the state, but many left unaccompanied.

Joey Knoll, who opened Spektrum Health in Orlando in 2018 to offer health care to transgender people, said Hinkle’s ruling means he and his staff can immediately begin clearing the backlog of more than 300 patients waiting for hormone prescriptions. .

“Judge Hinkle put it quite clearly when he said this is a situation of animosity and discrimination,” Knoll said. “He looked at the facts and admitted it.”

DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern said the state will appeal the decision.

“Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida will continue to fight to ensure that children are not chemically or physically mutilated in the name of radical new-age ‘gender ideology,’” Redfern wrote in an email.

One of the Floridians who sued, Lucien Hamel, said the decision brought him relief.

“The state cannot interfere with people’s private medical decisions, and I am relieved that here in Florida I can once again get the health care I need,” Hamel said in a statement released by lawyers who represented him and others in the case.