Sex and gender

Axios - Florida's restrictions on gender-affirming care for both minors and adults are unconstitutional and cannot be enforced, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. The decision lifts restrictions for transgender adults and overturns a ban on trans children seeking care such as hormones and puberty blockers — considered necessary, sometimes life-saving health treatment by the mainstream medical establishment. "Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs," U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle wrote in his 105-page ruling."But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender."

NPR - A federal judge has blocked a 2023 Florida law that bans gender-affirming care like puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for transgender minors. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle ruled the law was unconstitutional. The ruling states that while Florida could regulate these "safe and effective" treatments, it couldn't deny them — especially since treatment with those medications is approved for cisgender patients. Florida has vowed to appeal the ruling. Here's how the Florida ban came to be and what comes next. (via WUSF)