Clinton-appointed judge sides with Florida families against law banning minors' gender transitions

Federal District Court Judge Robert Hinkle on Tuesday sided with families suing over Florida's law that bans minors from receiving gender transition procedures and treatments.

Hinkle, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, blocked Florida from applying the ban to three minors whose families are part of the ongoing lawsuit. Other minors seeking transgender treatments are not affected by the preliminary injunction but the judge's decision suggests that a key part of the law could be rejected later in the courts.

In his 44-page ruling, Hinkle wrote that the children would "suffer irreparable harm" if they did not receive transgender treatments. He also said that Florida does not have a "legitimate state interest" in regulating the procedures and the law "was purposeful discrimination against transgenders."

"Gender identity is real," the judge wrote at the beginning of his conclusion in the ruling.

The families suing over the law are being represented by the Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Human Rights Campaign.

The legal groups celebrated the ruling, which they called a "powerful affirmation of the humanity of transgender people."

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.