A Florida mother expresses concern that her family may face severe consequences as the trial on the ban on trans health care commences.

This blog originally appeared at AP News.

The mother of a transgender girl broke into tears in federal court on Wednesday, fearing she might have to relocate away from her Navy officer husband to access healthcare for her 12-year-old if Florida’s ban on gender dysphoria treatments for minors is implemented.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe to safeguard her child’s identity, shared in court that her daughter’s life transformed from anxiety and distress to that of a thriving, happy straight-A student about eight years ago. This transformation occurred after making the decision, along with her husband, to allow their child to live as a girl—a choice influenced by numerous consultations with their family doctor.

As the girl approaches puberty, the mother expressed concern that her daughter may undergo unwanted changes without treatment, potentially causing devastation for her and the entire family.

“I am willing to go to the ends of the Earth to get the help my daughter needs,” the woman testified tearfully, contemplating the possibility of her family being torn apart and having to live somewhere else away from her husband.

The testimony unfolded as a trial commenced to challenge Florida’s prohibition on medical interventions for transgender minors, including hormone therapy or puberty blockers. This law, advocated by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis as part of his presidential campaign, also imposes limitations on transgender care for adults.

“This originated with the governor,” stated Thomas Redburn, an attorney representing transgender adults and families with transgender children.

He highlighted additional laws advocated by DeSantis, demonstrating that the governor and Republican legislators have targeted transgender rights. This includes regulations limiting the use of pronouns in schools to those that align with individuals’ sex at birth.

However, Mohammad Jazil, the state’s attorney, argued that the law is about protecting individuals. He cited instances where individuals were prescribed hormones after a brief 30-minute telehealth session. He also mentioned cases where people decided to detransition, experiencing permanent damage from their treatments.

“This case isn’t about overregulation, it’s about under-regulation,” Jazil stated.

Judge Robert Hinkle has temporarily halted the enforcement of the law until the trial concludes. The lawsuit also contests restrictions on adult transgender care, which are currently permitted to be enforced during the trial.

As of now, 22 states have implemented laws limiting or prohibiting gender-affirming medical procedures for transgender minors. Legal challenges have been raised in numerous states with varying outcomes. In Arkansas, the first such law was invalidated by a federal judge who ruled that the ban on care violated the due process rights of transgender youth and their families.

Enforcement of similar laws is currently blocked in two states apart from Florida, while in seven other states, enforcement is either currently allowed or set to go into effect soon.

Redburn argued in the opening statements that the Florida law is unconstitutional as it singles out an entire group of people. He highlighted that non-transgender adults can receive the same treatments, such as estrogen and testosterone, without facing similar restrictions.

“The state of Florida has determined that individuals should not be transgender,” Redburn asserted. “The fewer transgender people, the better.”

The mother of the girl testified that their family’s pediatrician diagnosed her daughter with gender dysphoria when she started showing a preference for girls’ toys and clothes at the age of 3. She recounted instances of her daughter screaming and removing her clothes in the car seat during trips to preschool. To access specialized care, the family has undertaken four-hour round trips to the University of Florida.

Regarding risks such as infertility mentioned by Jazil in the opening statements, the woman emphasized, “The benefits for my daughter far outweigh the potential risks. Her greatest fear is what she refers to as turning into a boy. I’ve reassured her that won’t happen.”

Jazil briefly questioned the girl’s mother, highlighting that the University of Florida health records did not include a height and weight for Jane Doe’s daughter.

Redburn emphasized that gender dysphoria is a genuine condition, not a choice influenced by social media or the internet, contrary to policymakers’ arguments. He highlighted how Republican lawmakers, advocates of the law, portrayed transgender individuals as evil and part of a cult. Additionally, he pointed out that the bill’s sponsor argued that God doesn’t make mistakes.

On a different note, three educators filed a lawsuit challenging the law restricting pronoun use in schools. They argue that the legislation prohibits transgender and nonbinary teachers from expressing their authentic selves.

Ironically, Jazil consistently used “her” and “she” when referring to Jane Doe’s daughter, despite the state’s mandate for others to use pronouns based on birth sex in schools.

The trial concerning transgender health care is anticipated to span five days.