transgender issues

We hear from a number of experts and reporters on this week's biggest stories on The Florida Roundup.

Under the rule, the Medicaid program would not cover puberty-blocking medication, hormones and hormone “antagonists,” gender affirmation surgeries and any “other procedures that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics.” It goes into effect Aug. 21.

Gov. Ron DeSantis contends that children are prematurely being allowed to pursue treatments that can have harmful lasting effects.

The petition proposes what is known as a “standard of care” that would prohibit patients under age 18 from receiving sex-reassignment surgery and puberty-blocking, hormone and hormone “antagonist” treatments.

Manny Diaz Jr. said it would “vastly expand the application” of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational institutions.

It would include puberty blockers, hormones and sex-assignment surgeries for both youth and adults.

Groups criticized a report that the Agency for Health Care Administration is using as a basis for the expected effort to deny Medicaid coverage for the treatments.

AHCA will start a rule-making process related to treatments for gender dysphoria, saying they are “not consistent with generally accepted professional medical standards and are experimental.”

Elliot Long says that he and his family have thought about leaving Florida, but realized that staying and “fighting the good fight” would be more impactful.

The state news release said “current evidence does not support the use of puberty blockers, hormone treatments or surgical procedures for children and adolescents.”

Ambiguity in the bill's language has transgender youth and therapists worried. They say it could lead to further restrictions.

The outcome of a landmark civil rights lawsuit being waged over Florida’s new law banning transgender girls from girls’ sports teams in schools may depend on the verdict in a related legal battle, a judge has ruled.