Transgender adults in Florida blindsided' that new law also limits their access to health care

[RandySF]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Debate surrounding Florida’s new restrictions on gender-affirming care focused largely on transgender children. But a new law that Republican presidential candidate and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed last month also made it difficult – even impossible – for many transgender adults to get treatment.

Eli and Lucas, trans men who are a couple, followed the discussions in the Legislature, where Democrats warned that trans children would be more prone to suicide under a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and Republicans responded with misplaced tales of mutilated kids. Eli said he and his partner felt “blindsided” when they discovered the bill contained language that would also disrupt their lives.

“There was no communication. … Nobody was really talking about it in our circles,” said Eli, 29.

Like many transgender adults in Florida, he and Lucas are now facing tough choices, including whether to uproot their lives so that they can continue to access gender-confirming care. Clinics are also trying to figure out how to operate under regulations that have made Florida a test case for restrictions on adults.


https://www.courant.com/2023/06/04/transgender-adults-in-florida-blindsided-that-new-law-also-limits-their-access-to-health-care/

[LoisB]

1. It is unfortunate that Florida does not have a recall procedure that is applicable to state elected

officials. I think DeSantis wakes up each morning and reaches for his "who can I hurt today" memo pad.

[carpetbagger]

14. I don't think DeSantis would be recalled even if able given his April 59 percent favorability

I know this is a near-flame war on DU, but as a former Floridian with a trans kid there, my belief is that this is what the electorate wants.

[LoisB]

17. Unfortunately for the millions who don't like what he is doing, you are probably right.

[TDale313]

2. This was always the plan.

It was never about “protecting kids” The end goal is erasing queer presence in public spaces. Trans people were just the easy first target.

[MOMFUDSKI]

4. DEEfascist is determined

to make Florida White, Straight, Catholic AGAIN. Everyone else must take their leave.

[yardwork]

3. No words.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

13. florida repubs were spitting out the bills so fast, there wasnt time for ordinary folks to absorb

the details of the new laws

[yardwork]

18. ALEC writes the bills. The Republicans just vote them in.

Not allowing time to read the bills, think about what they mean, or allow testimony from people who actually, I don't know, practice medicine or something is a feature.

I hope this behavior finally backfires on the GOP.

[Chi67]

5. This is fascism

There is no other word for it. DeSantis needs to suffer some consequences. This is unconstitutional and the fed should step in. It should not take a court case to invalidate laws like this.

[gratuitous]

6. When DeSantis won re-election with nearly 60% of the vote

Like any Republican, he took that as a mandate for anything he wants. This is what he wants. Did he campaign on this? Was this a major policy DeSantis ran for re-election on? I'll bet a cookie he didn't say doodly-squat about it, but that's the Republican way, too. Electing them to office is bad enough. Re-electing them is far, far worse, because then they regard it as a blank check. Think the first Dubya term was bad (and it was, considering he hadn't won a majority of the popular vote)? When he won re-election in 2004, it was two years of unrelenting oppression.

Don't elect Republicans. But if by some misadventure you do elect a Republican, fer crissakes don't re-elect them.

[Chi67]

7. Yep

The GQP has to go. VOTE THEM OUT!

[carpetbagger]

15. He ran on it.

In the closing days of the campaign (I was with my mother in Fort Myers and my son in Gainesville when early voting started), it was all about "the Democrats are communists", which is code word for they like black, gay, and educated people too much (i.e., DeSantis is just a bad reboot of the 1950s Johns Commission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Legislative_Investigation_Committee

[Takket]

8. how can the government just ban medical care that is accepted as proper?

I mean, could the government pass a law that makes it illegal to treat people with heart disease? and they eventually die because of it, and that is just too bad? I don't understand how that is even legal/Constitutional. Certainly if something is proven to be HARMFUL the government can step in and protect society but there is no proof/medical evidence trans care is harmful, quite the OPPOSITE in fact.

[Chi67]

11. It's not legal

But the problem is that a law has to be challenged in court to be struck down. That, IMO, is not how this country should work. If a law does not pass constitutional muster, it should be invalidated immediately by the fed. People should to have to suffer while a case runs through court challenges.

[carpetbagger]

16. Trump would have loved that n/t.

[Hekate]

9. I think DeSadist likes hurting people

[Initech]

10. This is pure hatred and a step towards elimination.

Fuck the fucking Fox News MAGA GQP Christian Taliban. If there is a hell, it waits for them.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

12. the law adds the same type of barriers used to prevent women from having abortions

The new law that bans gender-affirming care for minors also mandates that adult patients seeking trans health care sign an informed consent form. It also requires a physician to oversee any health care related to transitioning, and for people to see that doctor in person. Those rules have proven particularly onerous because many people received care from nurse practitioners and used telehealth. The law also made it a crime to violate the new requirements.