‘My child will die.’ These families say Florida’s moves to withhold gender transition care will lead to self-harm

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Kai was 13 when his period arrived, crushing his spirit.

The middle schooler rushed home to shower and emerged from the bathroom distraught. Kai’s mother, Barbara, said she looked into his eyes and knew she needed to do something or her child, who identified as a male, would harm himself.

Within weeks, Kai began puberty-blocking hormones that stopped the periods.