JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With several bills affecting the LGBTQ+ community recently passed in Florida, several transgender individuals are expressing their desire to permanently move out of the state. The impact of these bills has prompted concerns about the protection and rights of transgender individuals.
“Every single one down to the core, it’s stripping freedom away from people,” said Violent Rin, a transgender woman.
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Violet Rin, who is living in Middleburg, shared her thoughts on the bills that have been passed and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community, specifically transgender individuals. Rin explained that she feels compelled to leave the state due to the restrictions imposed by these bills.
“After a lot of research, I decided New Mexico would be the best place because New Mexico has some of the best transgender protections and queer protections,” Rin stated.
Florida lawmakers have recently passed several bills that have garnered strong disapproval from Rin and other members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed these bills into law, adding to the concerns.
Senate Bill 1580, for instance, permits healthcare providers and payors to refuse certain healthcare services based on a patient’s race, color, religion, or national origin. Rin believes that bills like this create significant challenges for the LGBTQ+ community.
READ: Gov. DeSantis signs bill allowing medical professionals to refuse care if it violates beliefs
Among the bills affecting the community, Rin highlighted Senate Bill 254.
“The one that has manifested the most, is SB 254. Because it has bared nurse practitioners from providing gender-affirming care to transgender patients. We have to keep in mind, this is care these nurse practitioners have been giving for decades,” said Rin
To address their concerns and support others facing similar challenges in different states, Rin and other transgender men and women have initiated a GoFundMe campaign.
The goal is not only to assist themselves in leaving Florida but also to provide assistance to individuals in other states where similar bills are being passed.
“It is important to realize that trans people and queer people are people just like anyone else. We live everywhere, and we are just trying to live our lives,” Rin emphasized.
Marie Dickerson, who lives in Jacksonville, says she plans to move to Colorado because these new bills affect her healthcare.
“I now have to go and get a written informed consent form and I have to go and see a regular doctor. So, I had to jump through a whole bunch of hoops just so I can get my medication,” said Dickerson.
Dickerson says that even if these laws were reversed in the future, she still feels like she will never return to the state.
The impact of these bills on the LGBTQ+ community remains a contentious issue, highlighting the ongoing debates regarding freedom and equality for all.[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
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