MARGATE, Fla. – The McKenzie Project in Broward County helps transgender adults and children and their families find access to health care.
Tuesday, a federal judge struck down a 2023 Florida law blocking gender-affirming care for transgender children and restricting treatment for adult trans men and women.
The decision is one local transgender activist Camille Lewis had been waiting and hoping for.
“Access to gender-affirming care for me means life,” said Lewis. “It took someone to be bold enough and brazen enough to stand up and do what needs to be done.”
The judge said the state went too far, barring transgender minors from being prescribed puberty blockers and hormonal treatments with their parents’ permission.
DeSantis’ office fired back at the judge’s decision Tuesday, saying:
“Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the Court was wrong to override their wishes. We disagree with the Court’s erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As we’ve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror.”
The controversial law once bolstered DeSantis’ failed campaign for president.
The governor’s claims on the science have been disputed by organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, which support gender-affirming care for children.