A federal judge in Tallahassee, Florida, has issued a ruling declaring that the state's transgender health care ban discriminates against state employees and infringes upon their civil rights. The ban, which prohibits coverage for gender reassignment or modification services or supplies, was found to be in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020 by three current and former state employees against the Florida Department of Management Services, challenged the denial of medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria. The plaintiffs argued that the state's exclusion of coverage for such treatments was discriminatory and unjust.
Represented by Southern Legal Counsel, the ACLU of Florida, and Legal Services of Greater Miami, the plaintiffs welcomed the court's decision. They emphasized that there is no valid reason for the state to deny coverage for essential medical treatment based solely on the condition being related to gender dysphoria.
In his ruling, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker highlighted that denying or reducing health benefits based on sex effectively denies employees equal employment opportunities. He stressed that medical treatment decisions should be made based on individual patient needs rather than blanket exclusions.
The court will proceed to schedule a trial to determine the damages owed to the plaintiffs. The Florida Department of Management Services and the governor's office have not yet provided comments on the lawsuit.
