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‘Votes are more important’: Joe Biden slammed for calling Florida laws banning use of puberty blockers ‘close to sinful’

Last month, Florida's medical board decided to ban puberty blockers, hormones, and surgical procedures for patients under 18

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: President Joe Biden has said changes to gender laws and treatment in Florida are "close to sinful" in a recent interview. He has also said that efforts by Republicans to block transgender rights are "cruel", and that there should be federal laws to prevent states from curbing trans rights.

"What's going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. It is just terrible what they are doing," Biden said in a clip of an interview with The Daily Show that has been released. "It's not like a kid wakes up one morning and says, 'You know, I decided I want to become a man or I want to become a woman or I want to change'.

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'Sinful' and 'Cruel'

"I mean, what are they thinking about here? They are human beings. They love. They have feelings. They have inclinations that are… it just to me, is, I don't know is, it's cruel," Biden added. It is unclear what actions in Florida Biden specifically opposes. However, in recent months, the state has taken various steps to block gender-affirming care for children.

Puberty blockers are used to delay puberty in transgender children. According to supporters, this helps trans children from undergoing body changes that could potentially be traumatic to them. As per opponents, however, blockers can have side effects causing serious damage to users later in life. The side effects could include sterility and the inability to achieve orgasm.   

Last month, Florida's medical board decided to ban puberty blockers, hormones, and surgical procedures for patients under 18. This is going to take effect later this week, according to BBC. A Florida law passed last year, named 'Don't Say Gay Bill', bans teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with children under the age of 10. 

385 bills about LGBT rights have been introduced

Across the country, at least 385 bills about LGBT rights have been introduced, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. According to Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, new rules that would defend parental rights and protect children were necessary. 

Meanwhile, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed new laws banning drag performances in front of children last week. It also restricts medical treatment for transgender youth. According to Lee's office, the ban on drag shows "specifically protects children from obscene, sexualized entertainment".

Biden, as a senator, had previously voted in the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, to define marriage as between a man and a woman. However, he later changed his views. He went on to speak out in favor of marriage equality when he served as vice president back in 2012. 

'This is absolutely ridiculous'

Biden is being slammed by social media users for his remarks, with one user saying, "And it’s getting more and more prevalent. I didn’t become a pharmacist to push a devastating agenda on kids." Another said, "Actually kids should be waking up dreaming of being a Dr, or an astronaut. Not being mutilated to fit in per the Diversity Equity and inclusion BS." "He’s playing to his side Morals be damned Votes are more important," one wrote. 

"Because he’s demonic…," one user said, while another wrote, "Sinful? Not allowing your child to be chemically castrated or have their genitalia mutilated now goes against the word of God, apparently. Was he taught that in the black Catholic church he was raised in?" One said, "This is absolutely ridiculous. Allowing anyone under 18 years of age to take puberty blockers or even worse, allowing them to undergo some type of sex change operation, is child abuse and child endangerment and anybody involved should go straight to prison. After 18, go for it!"

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