It does? Source? Also, the treatment is not "gender-affirming". It's a chemical intervention or genital mutilation aimed at creating a different outward appearance than the person's actual sex. Let's stop using framing to mischaracterize what's actually happening.
Every surgery on children carries inherent risks, including rare chances of death or long-term damage. Even common medicines like over-the-counter pain relievers can potentially, though very rarely, cause harm like liver failure. Parents are left to decide whether to proceed with any medicine or care. In fact, if parents don't proceed with certain established care, the state can intervene to provide it. The argument that 'children cannot validly consent' is being used to remove parental rights. The Court will give the State extreme power if it takes away the right of parents to provide established medical care to their children. If they do so, the State could ban any established medical care and medicine under the pretense of protecting children. Except, gender-affirming care has been recognized by medical professionals for over 50 years as a form of healthcare for individuals seeking to confirm their gender identity. Outside of transphobic individuals, speaking directly with those who have undergone this process provides critical insight that this experience is difficult for both the child and parents, and accessing care was already hard before recent bans. The refusal to understand this community leads to causing them careless harm. These bans are not protecting children; they will likely hurt them if allowed to stand. You didn't answer this: Are you supportive or against FL banning or restricting gender-affirming care to adult?
I did answer. I asked you for a source for this claim. As to the rest of your argument, it is invalid. Any surgery on a child must be justified by a medical indication. A child saying it is confused about its gender is not one. Children change their mind all the time. The whole "oh we must do it or they kill themselves" argument is bollocks. Ultimately, almost all of these cases are driven by crazy parents. And, again, it is not "gender-affirming". People have a biological sex, and that cannot change. What these chemical and surgical interventions do is, more or less convincingly, create an outward appearance of having a gender that one wasn't born with. Doesn't change the fact that the person's biological sex cannot be changed. If adults want to do this to themselves, and it makes them feel better, fine. But children cannot validly consent to it.
Transgender adults in Florida `blindsided' that new law also limits their access to health care - ABC News (go.com) The new law that bans gender-affirming care for minors also mandates that adult patients seeking trans health care sign an informed consent form. It also requires a physician to oversee any health care related to transitioning, and for people to see that doctor in person. Those rules have proven particularly onerous because many people received care from nurse practitioners and used telehealth. The law also made it a crime to violate the new requirements.
And with approval from the parent. That includes medicine, not just surgery. You want to take that parental right away. Now you are saying the parental right can be taken away because treatment for gender dysphoria is not medically valid. Said who now? You, some right-wing politicians, and some right-wing states - not medical experts. As for medical experts, here is a simple fact you keep ignoring: The standard of care for treatment for gender dysphoria has been around for 40+ years.
It's also not a parental right to have a kid's limb removed without a compelling medical reason. No reason whatsoever to assume a parental right to disable or mutilate a kid's genitals. Children cannot validly consent to either of these things. Frankly, your desperate defense of genital mutilation of children is creepy.
It seems similar to Texas' pre-Dobbs abortion restrictions: it creates medically-unnecessary steps (seeing a doctor vs a nurse practitioner vs. Texas requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges) that serve to slow down adults' access to healthcare. What compelling interest does Florida have to put any restrictions on how transgender adults receive healthcare?
Gender dysphoria treatment has been an accepted standard of care for over 40 years. As with any medical care, treatment only occurs when medically necessary. It is well-established that parents and doctors would not provide treatment, whether medication or surgery, without a medical need. However, right-wing politicians are now trying to define what constitutes a "medical need," taking decision-making power away from parents and doctors. This alarming government overreach threatens parental rights regarding established medical care. It should concern everyone, as it gives the state dangerous levels of control and opens the door to abuse. Ironically, the same right-wing politicians who once vehemently opposed "big government" are now willing to grant this dangerous power to the state. This willingness to harm transgender individuals and their families, even at expense to their own principles, exposes a disturbing lack of empathy and understanding. What they either fail to realize or downplay is that this power could ultimately be turned against anyone, including them and their own families. It appears to be driven by an underlying hatred rather than reason.
When you have nothing left but to attack, you have lost the debate. I accept your concession. See ya buddy.
Hahahsha. Let's make fun of people who are different and not hurting anyone else. That's sooooo funny and just a great time