Big news! A federal judge just delivered a blow to Gov. Ron DeSantis by ruling that the restrictions on transgender medical care in Florida are unconstitutional.
The ruling by U.S. district judge Robert Hinkle invalidates Florida’s laws restricting Medicaid payments for cross-sex and puberty hormones, deeming it a violation of federal law under the Affordable Care Act.
In his 105-page order, Hinkle stated that Florida’s prohibition on gender-affirming medical care, even if deemed medically necessary, is unconstitutional.
The decision came after a lawsuit was filed by Florida transgender individuals and families, challenging the state’s laws that discriminated against gender-affirming medical care.
This ruling halts enforcement of parts of Florida’s 2023 law, which placed strict restrictions on adults seeking gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy and puberty blocks.
According to U.S. district judge Hinkle, individuals have the right to their beliefs, but they cannot discriminate against transgender individuals solely based on their gender identity.
Florida passed the law on April 20, 2023, banning hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria. This move added Florida to the list of states with restrictive laws on gender-affirming care for children.
Simone Chriss of Southern Legal Counsel, representing transgender rights groups in the lawsuit, confirmed that Florida plans to appeal the decision.
Stay tuned as this story develops for more updates.