Florida lawmaker seeks to codify ban on gender dysphoria treatments for minors

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Within the coming days, a Florida lawmaker plans to file a invoice banning gender dysphoria remedies for transgender youth underneath 18.

Chair of the Home Well being & Human Providers Committee, Rep. Randy Wonderful, R-Palm Bay, mentioned to count on the laws earlier than the common legislative session begins on March 7.

Wonderful’s proposal comes after the Republican hosted a controversial panel dialogue Tuesday. Individuals, which included the top of Florida’s Board of Drugs, condemned the remedies as unsafe and unproven.

“Perhaps [the bill] will transcend minors, however it’ll completely cowl minors,” Wonderful mentioned, noting he would not have a carveout for parental consent. “There is no parental proper to youngster abuse. That is what that is.”

Wonderful’s plan is in step with current motion by Florida’s medical and osteopathic boards. Members restricted physicians from prescribing the remedies for Florida kids late final yr.

Wonderful’s forthcoming coverage could be extra everlasting, he mentioned, codifying opposition in state legislation.

“These individuals are making choices that they cannot undo,” Wonderful mentioned. “That is what’s so heartbreaking about it. You should not do these items whenever you’re 13 years outdated. Take into consideration all of the dumb stuff you needed to do whenever you had been 13 years outdated.”

The ban would go towards suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Endocrine Society, and American Medical Affiliation. The entire organizations think about the remedies helpful, with physicians reporting they hardly ever embrace surgical procedure.

“We must always let the medical specialists do their job and preserve our noses out of it,” Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the Florida Home Minority Chief, D-Tampa, mentioned.

Driskell, different Democrats, and LGBTQ+ advocacy teams are already vowing a fight as some think about the proposed invoice transphobic. They warned trans youth would undergo with out entry to care.

“We shouldn’t be utilizing these youngsters as a political ploy,” Driskell mentioned. “As an alternative, we must always give attention to getting them the psychological well being assets they want, the well being care assets they want, and ensuring that they develop up wholesome, affluent, and protected.”

Wonderful has dismissed the early criticism. He believed the GOP supermajority would ship the invoice to Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying, “I do not fear about this invoice — this invoice will go.”

Florida finds out if that is true when the session gavel drops subsequent month.