DeSantis says he would sign ban of surgery for transgender youth

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Monday that he would sign legislation banning transgender youth from getting gender reassignment surgery.

In an interview with the Daily Caller, DeSantis told the interviewer that he’s opposed to youths getting such surgeries, which he referred to as “chemical castration.” 

“I’m very much opposed to chemical castration of minors, I honestly didn’t know this existed until a few years ago,” DeSantis told the Daily Caller. “That would be something I would sign for sure.” 

DeSantis, who is seen as a potential presidential candidate for the Republican Party in 2024, also highlighted his signing last week and support for a Florida law that bans transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports. He said allowing this would amount to “discrimination.” 

“It’s discrimination against our women athletes to force them to participate against male athletes,” DeSantis said. “It needs to be a level playing field, and it needs to be fair, and it should all be based on biology, not based on ideology.” 

DeSantis also took a shot at other GOP governors, saying some aren’t passing similar legislation because they fear a backlash from corporations. DeSantis said he would not cave to the pressure from the “woke corporations.”