Today, the Florida Department of Health led by anti-vaccine extremist “Dr.” Joseph Ladapo issued guidelines that make Texas’s DFPS bogus “child abuse” memo look like a AA-level baseball game by banning any treatments for gender-affirming medical health care for trans youth, such as not only discouraging puberty blockers and gender-affirming treatments but also social transition (ex. pronouns, different name, or style of dress) as well.
This transphobic “guidance” issued by Ladapo is made in defiance of both federal guidance and commonsense medical practices for transgender health that support gender-affirming health care.
Romy Ellenbogen at Tampa Bay Times, via Miami Herald:
In a move that goes against federal guidance, the Florida Department of Health on Wednesday released guidelines that advise no treatment of gender dysphoria for children and teenagers outside of counseling. The state’s guidance advises against gender-affirming treatment for people under the age of 18, including surgery as well as the prescription of hormone therapy or puberty blockers, which suppress the release of testosterone or estrogen. Florida’s updated guidance also said social transition — things like using a different name, pronouns or style of dress — should not be a treatment option.
Gender dysphoria is the stress an individual feels when their gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.
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The state’s move goes against federal guidance and guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Guidance issued by the Office of Population Affairs, which falls under the Department of Health and Human Services, says research shows that gender-affirming care like social transitions and hormone therapy can improve the mental health and well-being of transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents. The Florida Department of Health on Wednesday put out a sheet disputing the federal Health and Human Services guidance and the studies it uses.
Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) on Twitter:
According to the state’s health department, the current evidence does not support the use of puberty blockers, hormone treatments, or surgical procedures for children and adolescents.
The American Academy of Pediatrics said that hormone therapy and surgery are not the only methods of gender-affirming care available to children.
Medical associations including the American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, have officially recognized the importance of gender-affirming care for minors.
According to the state health department’s updated guidance, 80 percent of those seeking clinical care will lose their desire to identify with the non-birth sex.
Florida’s top LGBTQ organization is blasting GOP Governor Ron DeSantis after his Dept. of Health issued a statement labeled “guidance” Wednesday in opposition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ fact sheet on gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary people, including children and adolescents.
“Once again, the DeSantis Administration seeks to replace science and the safety of young people with political propaganda,” Equality Florida said in a statement. “The Florida Department of Health has released non-binding guidance opposing science-backed health care resources for parents of transgender children.”
“This guidance demonizes life-saving, medically-necessary care, and asserts that the government, not parents, knows best when it comes to health care for our children. And, once again, DeSantis wants the government to intrude into doctors’ offices to pander to extremists in service to his political ambitions. Parents should be deciding, in partnership with their child’s doctor, based on science, not politics, what is best for their children.”
This is yet another part of Florida’s hateful war on LGBTQ+ people, and its trans community in particular, that is being led by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), regime propagandist (aka spokesperson) Christina Pushaw, and Ladapo. As always, trans rights are human rights.