Howard Brown Health Condemns Passage of Hateful Laws Threatening the Safety and Health of Trans Floridians
(Chicago, IL, May 19, 2023) – On International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a flurry of extreme and deeply harmful anti-trans bills. This year alone, Florida has already passed more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation than it has in the past seven years combined. These new laws roll back the rights of trans people in Florida in many ways, such as forcing schools to deadname and misgender trans students, banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools through eighth grade, and criminalizing trans people for using restrooms aligned with their gender identity.
Gov. DeSantis also signed into law an extreme gender-affirming care ban that prohibits Medicaid and public funding from being used to cover gender-affirming care for trans youth and adults. This law is also the first in the nation that would in specific circumstances allow the state to take emergency custody of trans children in custody battles to separate them from supportive parents who want to help them access gender-affirming care. As providers of gender-affirming care, we know that this care is essential, life-saving, and evidence-based best practice recommended by every major medical association in the country.
Howard Brown Health condemns Gov. DeSantis and anti-trans legislators in Florida for enacting completely unnecessary, unfounded, and hateful legislation to score cheap political points. These new laws are a concerted attack on the human rights of trans Floridians to simply exist and be safe in schools and public places, and to be able to access necessary healthcare. We stand in solidarity with trans Floridians and urge our allied elected officials and corporations to take a stand against hateful legislation and human rights violations in Florida and in many other states across the country. We will continue to advocate for all LGBTQ+ people across the country to be able to live free from discrimination and access affirming, comprehensive, and affordable healthcare.
Track and respond to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country:
- Anti-LGBTQ state legislation tracker from the ACLU
- LGBTQ+ related state legislation tracker from Equality Federation
Learn more about the current surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and how to respond to misinformation:
- Combating Anti-Transgender Disinformation: Anti-LGBTQ Organizing 201 from the Political Research Associates
- Learn more about anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and actions you can take:
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Media Inquiries:
Wren O’Kelley, Associate Director of Communications and Marketing
mediainquiries@howardbrown.org
872.269.3411