LGBTQ in Florida
Puberty blockers, also known as puberty inhibitors, are drugs that curb the progression of secondary characteristics in children and consequently delaying puberty (Turban et al, 2020). They work by blocking the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Administration of puberty inhibitors is advantageous to children as it gives them time to identify who there are in terms of sex and their roles as either male or female.
Puberty blockers play a key role in ensuring that questioning children have good mental health. Low self-esteem amongst these children due to their gender dissatisfaction has been linked to anxiety and depression (Ehrensaft, D. 2017). Cases of self-harm and suicidal thoughts can hence be managed by the administration of the puberty blockers. Administration of these agents, however, is sometimes accompanied by side effects and adverse events that may be detrimental to the overall health of the individual (Cohen, D., & Barnes, H. 2019). The delaying of secondary sexual characteristics for a relatively long period of time may cause more mental harm to the children when their peers already have developed their pubertal features.
Culture plays a key role in dictating gender roles. Children tend to learn certain attributes of life from what they see in their society. The children are hence preconditioned to cultural aspects that have historically dictated specific tasks for specific genders. They then grow knowing that following the historical norms is right in society (Eisend, M. 2019). Historical reasons are, however, not valid at the present date because modern society aims at embracing the diversity of nature, unlike in the past, whereby gender was based on the sex of the individual.
The local state non-discrimination law in Florida does not accommodate the LGBTQ population adequately. This is clearly indicated in the transgender law canter equality map, which shows that the LGBTQ population lack laws that protect them from discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing.
References
Turban, J. L., King, D., Carswell, J. M., & Keuroghlian, A. S. (2020). Pubertal suppression for transgender youth and the risk of suicidal ideation. Paediatrics, 145(2).
Ehrensaft, D. (2017). Gender nonconforming youth: current perspectives. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 8, 57.
Cohen, D., & Barnes, H. (2019). Gender dysphoria in children: puberty blockers study draws further criticism. BMJ, 366, l5647.
https://transgenderlawcenter.org/equalitymap
Eisend, M. (2019). Gender roles. Journal of Advertising, 48(1), 72-80.
