Florida Appeals Court Upholds Treatment Restrictions

A federal appeals court has upheld Florida's restrictions on treatments for individuals with gender dysphoria, allowing these measures to remain while a legal battle continues. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle's previous ruling that blocked the restrictions, which include prohibiting minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The 2-1 decision on Thursday rejected a request from plaintiffs challenging the stay, with Judges Britt Grant and Robert Luck in the majority, while Judge Charles Wilson dissented. Hinkle had previously found that the restrictions were driven by 'animus' towards transgender individuals and violated equal protection rights. Florida's law also limits hormone therapy approval to physicians only and bans telehealth for new prescriptions, prompting concerns about reduced access to care. The state's administration has disputed the effectiveness of gender dysphoria treatments, especially for minors.