A Florida law passed last May protecting children from gender-transitioning treatments will remain in effect for now, given a recent ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The 2-1 preliminary injunction removes a lower court’s block on SB 254, which makes it illegal to administer puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and gender-change surgeries to children. Full oral arguments will be heard by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals the earliest date available on the oral arguments calendar.

Last May, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a package of five bills, Let Kids Be Kids, fighting gender ideology. However, the law does not apply to children already receiving gender-transitioning treatments.

SB 254 also:

• Requires adults receiving these surgeries and treatments to be informed about their irreversible nature and dangers.
• Requires minors and adults already receiving puberty blockers and hormones to receive them from a physician and sign a written consent form while in the physician’s presence.
• Grants Florida courts temporary emergency jurisdiction to intervene and halt procedures for children who have come in from other states for such treatments.
• Creates a pathway for children or their families to later sue doctors for injury or death resulting from surgeries or experimental puberty blockers.

Since 2023, courts have upheld similar laws in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. At this time, 26 states have bans on medical mutilation on the books. 

Nancy Flory, Ph.D., is a senior editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.