Portions of a new Florida law signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last month banning transgender treatments for children were temporarily blocked Tuesday by a Federal judge appointed by former President Bill Clinton.
“Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear,” Judge Robert Hinkle wrote in a 44-page preliminary injunction against parts of SB 254, adding that there was no basis for the state to deny treatment to patients.
The injunction prevented the ban from being applied to three children already receiving treatment whose parents are part of a lawsuit against the state over the law. He claimed they would “suffer irreparable harm” if they were not allowed to continue their treatments.
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The state capitol building in Tallahassee, Florida. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“And even when not based on bigotry, there are those who incorrectly but sincerely believe that gender identity is not real but instead just a choice,” he added.
Fox News Digital reached out to DeSantis’ office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.