gender dysphoria

Transgender patients say their doctors have been holding off on prescribing treatments as they wait for new consent forms. Medical boards are proposing to allow them to continue for now.

The Joint Rules and Legislative Committee of the medical boards will meet Thursday in Tampa.

Much of the attention surrounding transgender care in Florida lately has focused on minors. But a new law that criminalizes providing gender-affirming care to most children is also disrupting access for adults.

The Health & Human Services Committee was directed to investigate the standards of care for gender dysphoria adopted by Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Florida Psychiatric Association.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs say they're being denied access to medically necessary treatments. They expect the judge will rule on this case and another suit challenging the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors at the same time.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle heard arguments from an attorney representing the three families in a case that argues they are being stripped of the right to make medical decisions for their children.

LGBTQ advocates have started a fund that will help transgender people get gender affirming care in other states.

Texas' Legislature has advanced a bill, and Missouri and Nebraska statehouses are poised for action as well, adding to the list of at least 17 states that already have laws in place.

Members of the LGBTQ community and their allies say the new laws could force families to move out of Florida and damage the state's reputation.

The bills also restrict pronoun use in schools and force people to use the bathroom corresponding with their sex at birth.