Advocates condemns the Florida legislature for the passage of a series of anti-transgender bills.  We are deeply saddened by the trauma and discrimination Florida is working to inflict on gender expansive young people and their families. This week, Florida’s legislature passed, and Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign, horrific and oppressive bills attacking the transgender community, including a bill that permits the state to remove transgender minors from their families if they receive gender affirming care; bans all gender affirming care for minors; and bans transgender people in schools and other state facilities from using the bathroom that matches their gender. 

Everyone has the right to be safe and comfortable in restrooms. This law will put transgender people in discomfort and even danger.  Gender-affirming care is a course of treatment that has been endorsed by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and proven over decades to be vital to the mental health and wellbeing of transgender people. It is age-appropriate, life-saving, medically necessary care.  

And it is abominable that Florida would remove trans kids from loving families who accept and affirm them for who they are. 

All over this country, we are witnessing a concerted effort to bring an end to the very existence of transgender people. It is imperative that everyone speak out against transphobia and look for ways to ensure transgender people in our communities are safe and supported. We should be celebrating all young people, including transgender young people, for who they are and helping them thrive – not codifying discrimination and bullying into our laws.