Florida Medical Board Bans Meds For Trans Teens

Florida’s state medical board effectively banned gender-affirming care for transgender minors today in an unprecedented vote. The new rules were proposed by Florida’s Health Department in April and backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Going through the state Board of Medicine, whose members are all appointed by DeSantis, allowed the governor to get the result he wanted without going through the state legislature which has declined to take up a bill that would prohibit such treatment. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1588643504858841090 From the New York Times:

The board voted 6-3 (with five others not present) on Friday to adopt a new standard of care that forbids doctors to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones, or perform surgeries, until transgender patients are 18.

Exceptions will be allowed for children who are already receiving the treatments.

The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine also voted to restrict care for new patients on Friday, but allowed an exception for children enrolled in clinical studies. Doctors who flout the rules risk losing their medical licenses.

It’s important to note that the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association have all endorsed gender-affirming care as necessary and frequently lifesaving for transgender individuals. https://twitter.com/OrianaBeLike/status/1588649568966963200 A week ago, during a public hearing which ignored the statements of trans youth and trans activists, some of those who benefit from gender-affirming care tried to convince the Board of Medicine their proposed rules were wrong. Yuri Tversky submitted this testimony in writing:

“I am 15 years old. I knew with certainty that I am trans when I was 10 years old. When I first came out, everyone rejected me and told me it was a phase.”

“Five years later, it is not a phase. When I was 10 years old, I was suicidal, and would self-harm because nobody believed me and I knew I couldn’t keep going through the wrong puberty and wait eight years before I could transition.”

“I became secretive, and would lie to my parents about anything related to my trans identity as to hide it from them. Because when I had told them at age 10, they didn’t believe me.”

“Last year, right before I turned 15, I came out to them again. And they were more accepting. At that point, I had wanted to start transitioning for five years. After telling them I want to try and start, they hesitantly accepted it and we tried to start the process of getting testosterone.”

“It took me six months to get testosterone. It is not easy. No matter what your propaganda says, I had to fight every step of the way and be denied every step of the way until finally, after four different professionals, I was given my prescription.”

“Going on testosterone is the single best decision I have ever made in my life and that is not an exaggeration. I am no longer suicidal. I can finally acknowledge and embrace the fact that I have a future, and a family that loves and accepts me for who I am. I don’t have to pretend to be someone else anymore. Until now. Until you.”

Florida's Board of Medicine has just voted to eliminate access to life-saving health care for trans youth.

The DeSantis administration has invested an unbelievable amount of energy into harming LGBTQ+ children, and this will only endanger more lives.

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) November 4, 2022