gender-affirming care

Thousands of transgender adults are grappling with Florida’s new health landscape after a state board issued new rules for care at the end of June.

Six weeks after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that places heavy restrictions and outright bans on gender-affirming care in Florida, many transgender Floridians feel uncertainty and dread about their future in the state. Senate Bill 254, signed into law on May 17th, has been criticized for its broad restrictions on healthcare for the estimated 94,900 transgender people who live in Florida.

The state is appealing two rulings this month by a federal judge that rejected efforts to limit treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender people.

A federal judge has struck down Florida’s prohibition against Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care, calling the policy 'invidious discrimination."

Although the injunction only applies to the families involved in the suit, lawyers call it an “important initial step” to get the ban overturned.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs say they're being denied access to medically necessary treatments. They expect the judge will rule on this case and another suit challenging the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors at the same time.

The parents of three transgender children filed the suit. They did not appear during the hearing.

A federal judge heard opening arguments in a challenge to a state decision to prevent Medicaid coverage for treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans people in Florida.

The Republican-controlled House Health & Human Services Committee voted along party lines to allow Chairman Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, to subpoena records from the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Florida Psychiatric Society.

Josie felt like Florida lawmakers were threatening her health care and ability to live authentically at school. So she left. Many families of trans youth are plotting their exits as well.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is asking a federal appeals court to shield Jason Weida, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) secretary, from having to testify in a legal challenge to a rule prohibiting Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender people.

One Tampa Bay area mom says she's preparing to move her family out of state if lawmakers make it harder for her daughter to access health care. But she also wants to fight for the families who can't.