Judge Strikes Down Ron DeSantis' Signature Law
newsweek.comtransgender children were ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge on Tuesday, striking down a key pillar of Gov. Ron DeSantis' platform.In his ruling from Tallahassee, U.S.
District Judge Robert Hinkle invalidated a Florida health code rule and a new state law that prohibited Medicaid payments for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
He found these bans violated federal laws, including the Affordable Care Act's prohibition on sex discrimination in healthcare."Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate," Judge Hinkle wrote in his 105-page order. "The ban is unconstitutional."The ruling comes after a lawsuit brought by transgender Floridians and their families, including parents of children whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex.Tuesday's decision in the Doe v.
Ladapo case also prohibits the enforcement of certain parts of a 2023 Florida law that imposed restrictions on adults seeking transition care, such as hormone replacement therapy.