Overview

• Federal Judge Robert Hinkle has criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for spreading false information about gender-affirming care for transgender young people.
• DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, has repeatedly claimed that the ban on this treatment has stopped the 'mutilation' of young patients.
• However, Judge Hinkle pointed out that genital surgery is not generally performed on people under 18, and the effects of puberty blockers are reversible.
• Hinkle has temporarily blocked the law's provisions affecting trans minors while he hears the lawsuit, but he let the portions dealing with trans adults go into effect.
• The judge raised the question of whether DeSantis's support for the law and statements about it were politically motivated.