Florida ban on gender transitioning for minors now in effect

Florida’s rule to stop minors from undergoing gender transition procedures has now come into effect — and Republican state lawmakers are forging ahead with plans to strengthen the restrictions even further.

After months of tense hearings and debate, the Florida Board of Medicine enacted a rule that bars minors from starting puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Minors who were already receiving the treatment before the date the rule takes effect can continue to do so, although the rule prohibits all minors from receiving gender-affirming operations.

Florida becomes eighth state to restrict transgender care for minors
Republican state legislators are planning to make the limitations even more stringent.

Chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine, Scot Ackerman, said that the board’s goal is to safeguard children from therapies that cause irreversible harm, and that the board still wants to provide care to these patients but with a limited set of therapies available. Several other states across the country are also enacting similar measures.