Trans Kids in Florida Face New Health Care Restrictions

Yet again, trans kids in Florida are facing more restrictions on gender affirming care following a reckless decision in the Eleventh circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. 

The 2-1 ruling that allows for the banning of gender-affirming care for youth under 18, as well as enforcing restrictions on transgender adults–one of which prohibits nurse practitioners from prescribing hormone replacement therapy medication to patients–is to be implemented immediately. This devastating issue is forcing families with trans youth to travel out of state to receive gender affirming care.

The Campaign for Southern Equality’s Trans Youth Emergency Project (TYEP), states on their website, “The Trans Youth Emergency Project is here to help families navigate this complex and exhausting maze, offering logistical and financial support. Our team provides 1-on-1 custom patient navigation services and supports families of transgender youth with emergency grants to help them travel out of state for care.”

TYEP partners with Southern Legal Counsel and Equality Florida to help trans kids in Florida since the state first banned trans health care in 2023.

Allison Scott (she/her pronouns), Director of Impact and Innovation for the Campaign for Southern Equality, says in a statement, “Legal battles like this one in Florida are giving families of transgender youth whiplash. Healthcare that their child desperately needs is legal and accessible one day and illegal the next.”

She goes on to say, “We want families of transgender youth in Florida and around the country to know that no matter the laws our states pass or the decisions our courts make, we will do everything we can to make sure transgender youth have access to the lifesaving healthcare they need.” 

Scott ends her statement by speaking hope into our hearts, “Through the Trans Youth Emergency Project, we are helping families connect to care in states where it is legal, and providing emergency funding to assist with travel costs. No one should have to leave their home state for life-saving healthcare, but in this tumultuous period, CSE and our partners will be there to offer support every step of the way – and will keep fighting tooth and nail for full legal equality for transgender youth and the entire LGBTQ+ community.”