The staggering fine print of Texas and Florida’s new anti-trans bills

This blog originally appeared at VOX.

Two sweeping bans on gender-affirming care for trans teens could have devastating implications.

Two of the largest conservative-leaning states, Texas and Florida, are on the verge of implementing new bans on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender children. In Texas, the legislature recently passed a bill prohibiting gender-affirming care, including hormone treatments and surgeries, for individuals under 18. While trans teens already undergoing hormone treatments will be allowed to continue temporarily, they are required to gradually cease the treatments. Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign the bill into law. Similarly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a similar ban that imposes felony penalties on healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care to minors. This law includes a provision concerning custody disputes for children receiving gender-affirming care, raising concerns that it may override rulings from other states.

These bans are part of a coordinated national campaign by the GOP to undermine LGBTQ rights within state legislatures. Florida has already passed more anti-LGBTQ legislation this session than it did in the past seven years, while Texas is on track to surpass its previous record with more than double the number of similarly restrictive laws. Cathryn Oakley, the State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign, highlights the alarming trend.

The implementation of these bans could potentially uproot many families with transgender children in Texas and Florida, forcing them to consider relocating to more accepting environments. Removing access to gender-affirming care has profound and life-altering impacts on these families, as noted by Oakley. The well-being and safety of their children become paramount concerns. Families with the means to do so have been contemplating moving to states where their children can receive the necessary care and protection.

The consequences of these bans extend beyond immediate access to healthcare. The emotional toll on trans youth and their families is immense, as they face a hostile legislative landscape that disregards their identities and rights. These measures reflect a broader trend of conservative lawmakers prioritizing their political agendas over the well-being and lives of LGBTQ individuals. As these bans become enacted, trans families and their allies continue to advocate for inclusivity, understanding, and equal treatment, emphasizing the urgent need for education and awareness surrounding the experiences of transgender and non-binary communities.

What’s in the Florida law

Advocates are challenging parts of the Florida law on an emergency basis in court, arguing that it violates parents’ fundamental rights to make medical decisions for their children and that it violates the Constitution by discriminating against transgender children. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday.

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