DeSantis signs bill to ban gender treatments for minors

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed into law a statewide ban on gender-related treatments for minors.

"You have a movement amongst, I would say, rogue elements of the medical establishment, to do things that is basically the mutilation of minors," the governor said, according to Newsmax.

"You have actually some states in this country that want to be a haven for these types of procedures, and even welcome minors without their parents' consent," he added. "We're obviously doing the opposite here."

Republican state Sen. Clay Yarborough had sponsored the measure, which specifically bans those under the age of 18 from receiving gender surgeries or prescription hormone treatments as part of so-called "gender-affirming" care. It further bars the use of state funds to pay for those treatments.

"We need to let kids be kids and our laws need to set appropriate boundaries that respect the rights and responsibilities of parents by protecting children from the very serious health and safety concerns associated with these treatments," he said in early April.

DeSantis's signature marks the latest move in a string of Republican-led efforts to ban the procedures for minors. 

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.