Florida slams Biden’s DHS official Rachel Levine for ‘character assassination’

Levine suggested that individuals and groups who stand against such practices are "opponents of LGBTQ equality" who have "targeted trans and queer youth to score political points."

Levine, who has been a staunch advocate for gender-affirming care, made the comments during a virtual Pride Month town hall hosted by the Democratic National Committee.

Along with the aforementioned assertions, Levine suggested that, "Every major medical association agrees: gender-affirming care is life-saving, medically necessary, age-appropriate, and a critical tool for health care providers."

Florida Department of Health spokesman Jeremy T. Redfern pushed back on Levine's accusations in a statement to FOX News.

"The Surgeon General is opposed to experimental and irreversible medical treatments on children and teenagers that suffer from gender dysphoria," he said.

"The idea that this makes anyone at the Department of Health an 'opponent of LGBTQ equality' is nothing more than a poorly attempted character assassination."

"The Department of Health is following the evidence," Redfern added. "The federal government is following the eminence."

Florida has long questioned the Biden administration's narrative when it comes to "gender-affirming care," especially for children.

In April, the Health Dept. released guidance for the treatment of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents, citing a number of studies whose results opposed the evidence provided on a "fact sheet" from the Biden government.

Florida's official guidance stated that, "Social gender transition should not be a treatment option for children or adolescents," nor should "puberty blockers or hormone therapy," or "gender reassignment surgery."

Instead, "children and adolescents should be provided social support by peers and family and seek counseling from a licensed provider."