Gender-Affirming Care

With new restrictions on gender-affirming care, prisons confiscate underwear from transgender inmates and compel them to cut their hair.

California-based nonbinary journalist Nico Lang documents the lives of eight transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid teenagers across the United States, including two trans siblings in Pensacola.

The lawsuit challenged a state Agency for Health Care Administration rule that barred coverage of hormone treatment and puberty blockers. It was later updated to include a state law that similarly prevented Medicaid reimbursement for the treatments.

A 2023 law prevented minors from beginning to receive puberty blockers and hormone therapy for treatment of gender dysphoria. Opponents argued, in part, that the restrictions reduced access to hormone therapy for adults.

The denial means the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children with gender dysphoria will remain restricted while the federal appeals court considers an underlying case.

Spektrum Health was ready to pivot its treatments should Florida’s ban on transgender therapies return. It did.

Tampa-based U.S. District Judge William Jung issued an injunction in July to halt the rule, which was designed to help prevent discrimination in health care programs that receive federal money.

The stay means the restrictions on treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy can be in effect while the Atlanta-based court considers an underlying appeal of Hinkle’s ruling, which argued for access to these treatments.

The decision could be important for a legal battle over a Florida law that prevents minors from receiving hormone therapy and puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria.

The governor says the presidential election could determine whether the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors stays in place.

A district judge had blocked Florida's law restricting access to gender-affirming care earlier this year. Lawyers for trans plaintiffs and their families say even a temporary rollback on that decision is "devastating."

The decision handed down on Monday cleared the way for Florida to prohibit transgender minors from being prescribed puberty blockers and hormonal treatments, even with their parents’ permission.