Last week, the Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine voted to ban gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for minors in the state.
"Today, the Boards of Medicine & Osteo Medicine voted to protect our children from irreversible surgeries & highly experimental treatments," Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo tweeted on Nov. 4 in announcing the ban.
"I appreciate their integrity for ruling in the best interest of FL children despite facing tremendous pressure to permit these risky & unproven treatments," Ladapo added. "Children deserve to learn how to navigate this world without harmful pressure. Florida will continue to fight for kids to be kids."
...despite facing tremendous pressure to permit these risky & unproven treatments. Children deserve to learn how to navigate this world without harmful pressure. Florida will continue to fight for kids to be kids. (2/2)
— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@FLSurgeonGen) November 4, 2022
As reported by The Christian Post, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – an LGBT advocacy group – condemned the decision to ban transgender treatments for minors.
"Today's vote to deny medically necessary, age-appropriate healthcare to transgender young people will do irreparable harm to countless Floridian kids, and their families," HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said in a statement last Friday.
"The decision was based upon incomplete data and manipulated claims that do not reflect science, medicine, or any other evidence-based approach to life-saving, medically necessary care. It defies the recommendation of every major medical association," the activist added. "Transgender youth are already at a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide due to stigma and discrimination, all of which will only be exacerbated by this denial of care."
Warbelow further argues that the choice behind gender transition should be "careful and deliberate consultation between doctors, patients, and their families, with the end goal of reducing the physical and emotional distress experienced by transgender children."
"The Florida Board of Medicine should take immediate steps to rescind this rule and provide the support that transgender youth need to thrive," she said.
So far, Alabama, Arizona, and Arkansas have banned transgender surgeries for minors. The governors of Alabama and Arizona have signed legislation banning such procedures into law. In Arkansas, the Republican-led state legislature overrode Gov. Asa Hutchinson's veto of a similar bill, which has since become law.
Florida is poised to be the fourth state to ban such procedures for minors.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Nicky Ebbage
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
