The decision overturns the law banning gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed last year.
It also relieves transgender adults of the requirement that patients see a physician in person for any transition-related care, a rule that was particularly burdensome given that most people received care from nurse practitioners and use telehealth appointments.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee sided with the 11 plaintiffs, including four transgender adults and seven parents of transgender children.
“The State of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment ― treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the state’s full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patient’s transgender identity,” Hinkle wrote.