TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State health officials in Florida decided once again to ban hormone therapies and sex reassignment surgeries for minors, following a public hearing Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • State health officials let decision stand to ban hormone therapies, sex reassignment surgeries for transgender minors

  • The proposed rule sets the standard for the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors

  • Rule still needs to go through a review process with the legislature before final approval

The proposed rule for the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors, which the Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine initially approved back in November, prohibits any surgical procedures that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics and prohibits puberty blocking and hormone therapies.

“What the board sought to do is to protect our children from therapies that have irreversible harm, that have been shown to create irreversible harm,” said Florida Board of Medicine Member Dr. Hector Vila to the crowd attending the public hearing.

Equality Florida bussed around 40 Central Floridians to Tallahassee and other locals made the trip on their own to speak out against this measure.

Andrea Montanez, a trans woman from Orlando, spoke during public comment, calling it a political move: “For the state of Florida, the governor in particular, we don’t need your permission to exist.”

Governor Ron DeSantis and State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo pushed for this rule, calling gender-affirming care medically unproven and potentially dangerous long-term. Many medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, argue treatments for transgender youth are safe and beneficial.

The proposed rule still needs to go through a review process with the legislature before final approval.