Florida Republican wants to make life-saving healthcare for trans kids a felony

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A Florida Republican has vowed to introduce legislation next session that would criminalise gender-affirming care for trans youth in the state. 

State representative Randy Fine said in a post on social media on Monday (4 April) that he would “shepherd legislation” that would make it illegal for parents and doctors to provide gender-affirming healthcare to trans children. 

He said the bill, which he plans to file next year, would make providing gender-affirming care – including medications and surgeries – to minors “felony child abuse” which would be “punishable by prison and loss of medical license”. 

Fine said the legislation would not “affect mental counseling” for trans youth in Florida. 

I've had enough. Next session, I will shepherd legislation to make it illegal to provide drugs or surgery to a minor for “gender assignment." Will make it felony child abuse punishable by prison/loss of medical license. This legislation would not affect mental counseling.

— Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) April 4, 2022

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Democratic representative Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida’s first LGBT+ Latino legislator, condemned Fine’s proposal in a statement to Orlando Sentinel. 

“Florida Republicans are on a dangerous course, retaliating against any person or business who expresses support for the LGBTQ+ community,” Smith said. 

“This latest threat to criminalise parents and doctors who provide life-saving care for LGBTQ youth should shock the conscience of all Floridians.”

State representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, also denounced Fine’s legislation in a post on social media. 

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She said the proposal was evidence from Florida Republicans that the “entire premise of HB1557”, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, was to “attack the health & well-being of LGBTQ+ youth, who they don’t think should even be able to access medical care w/parental consent”. 

“This policy proposal is dangerous & will harm already marginaliz[ed kids],” Eskamani wrote.

FL Republicans once again showing us that the entire premise of HB1557 was & is to attack the health & well-being of LGBTQ+ youth, who they don't think should even be able to access medical care w/parental consent.

This policy proposal is dangerous & will harm already marginaliz pic.twitter.com/uRTD3uJiYX

— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani