A federal judge says Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has repeatedly spread false information that doctors have mutilated children's genitals in an effort to ban transgender medical care for minors. There are no documented cases of such treatment).
Judge Robert Hinkle made the remarks on the final day of the trial, saying he would rule “as soon as possible” in the new year on whether transgender youth were being illegally targeted.
In May, DeSantis, who is running for president, sponsored legislation that would make it illegal for medical professionals to provide transgender minors with gender-affirming medical treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, and surgery. signed.
Three Florida families with transgender children sued the state, claiming the law harms their children and violates their right as parents to make medical decisions for their children.
Hinkle, a district judge in the Northern District of Florida who was appointed by former President Clinton, told State's Attorney Mohammad Jazir during a hearing Thursday that DeSantis was actually preventing children from receiving care. , said he touted a law that would protect children from mutilation. Associated Press reported.
“What should we make of these statements when analyzing the governor's motives?” he asked during the hearing. “This doesn't seem like just an exaggeration.”
lawSenate Bill 254 also places limits on care for transgender adults by narrowing the available health care providers who can administer treatment.
Those who violate the law risk being convicted of a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.
According to the Associated Press, Jazir said the law is aimed at public safety in areas that require more oversight and “doesn't target transgender individuals.”
According to NPR affiliate WUSF, plaintiffs' attorney Thomas Redburn told the judge that the law would have a devastating impact on transgender youth and their families, calling it “a product of insidious discrimination.” He said there is.
Hinkle questioned whether the plaintiffs could prove that DeSantis supported the law “because he hates transgender people,” or whether he was motivated by legitimate health concerns. I saw it.
“The question is, what are we going to do about this? What the state has decided to do is take a sledgehammer and ban it completely,” the judge said, according to WUSF.
“You're rarely blessed with what's actually in people's hearts,” Redburn answered. “When you put all of that together here, you have an unconstitutional statute.”
Hinkle temporarily blocked enforcement of the law against young people, pending the outcome of the case.
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