Florida medical board prohibits child sex change surgeries, drugs

According to Florida's Voice, the two medical boards initially disagreed on how to handle the issue of transgender-identifying children at their November 2022 meeting. At that time, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine voted to allow minors who had already started puberty blockers and/or cross-sex hormones to continue "treatment" if they were part of a clinical trial approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The Board of Medicine voted against making an exception for those in that category and the osteopathic board removed it from their policy on Friday.

The outlet reported that the boards had heard testimony from members of the public who were both pro- and anti- children transitioning prior to voting.

Simone Chriss, Director of the "Transgender Rights Initiative" at Southern Legal Counsel, accused the board of voting for "political gain" and argued that "access to treatment for gender dysphoria is safe, effective, and medically necessary."

Dr. Hector Vila, M.D., a member of the Board of Medicine, replied with "This board has reviewed hundreds of studies, we talk to doctors, we've received testimony from both sides of this issue, and the overwhelming data does not support."

Another trans activist even injected themselves with a hormone replacement drug while speaking to the board in protest.

"The Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine are apolitical bodies that have the primary mission of protecting the people of the state of Florida," Paul Vasquez, executive director of the Florida Board of Medicine said.

"As with any issue before the boards, the board members will look to the available science and appropriate standard of care, while putting aside any personal feelings they may have on the issues before them today," Vasquez added.

Anna Eskamani, a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, decried the decision on Twitter, calling it "cruel" and "dangerous."

Fellow Democrat state Rep. Michele K. Rayner-Goolsby also expressed her "outrage," calling the decision a "dangerous attack on bodily autonomy."

Brendon Leslie of Florida's Voice wrote, "Pretty weird to see grown adults crying on Twitter because children can't mutilate their bodies in Florida."

Following the vote, the Florida chapter of Gays Against Groomers posted, "There is no space for partisan politics when it comes to safeguarding the health and well-being of children."