MSNBC’s Ali Velshi was not happy with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s latest decision to remove the ability to use Medicaid to pay for gender dysphoria treatment. Velshi alleged on his Saturday show that move is on the level of not providing puberty blockers to minors and the “Don’t Say Gay bill.”
As part of his monologue, Velshi declared, “Since Governor Ron DeSantis took office, few states have been more hostile toward LGBTQ+ community than Florida.”
After reporting on the new Medicaid provisions, Velshi portrayed them as anti-scientific, “In making this change, Florida asserts that treatments like hormone replacement therapy, and puberty blockers, aren't quote, 'a medical necessity.' Even though the American Medical Association has endorsed those treatments for years as part of standard medical care.”
Velshi claimed that “This is the culmination of months-long efforts to deny transgender individuals, including trans minors, treatment that they want and deserve.”
Like the Medicaid rules, this was also alleged to be anti-scientific, “Back in June, the state—the-- released a report which falsely stated that gender affirming care was ineffective, and under-researched. A team of scientists and a law professor at Yale University subsequently criticized that report for lying on pseudoscience, and making misleading claims.”
Florida’s rules that Velshi is attacking are in line with Finland and Sweden, which aren’t exactly full of right-wing culture warriors. Still, despite portraying himself as the factual one, Velshi concluded by repeating another common falsehood, “And this is only the latest action taken by the state that discriminates against members of the LGBT community, like late last month. A new law that critics called the Don't Say Gay bill took effect which restricted educators can teach, or say in the classroom, about sexual identity and gender diversity.”
Neither Velshi nor “critics” have ever provided a compelling reason why children third grade and under should be taught about matters of sexuality and left-wing gender theory.
This segment was sponsored by IHOP
Here is a transcript for the August 13 show:
MSNBC Velshi
8/13/2022
8:34 AM ET
ALI VELSHI: Since Governor Ron DeSantis took office, few states have been more hostile toward LGBTQ+ community than Florida. And soon will be more difficult for some transgender residents of all ages to receive gender-affirming care in the states--in that particular state. Beginning August 21st, trans Floridians will no longer be able to use Medicaid to pay for treatment for gender dysphoria, a condition that refers to the psychological distress that some people experience because their biological sex doesn't align with the gender identity.
In making this change, Florida asserts that treatments like hormone replacement therapy, and puberty blockers, aren't quote, "a medical necessity." Even though the American Medical Association has endorsed those treatments for years as part of standard medical care.
This is the culmination of months-long efforts to deny transgender individuals, including trans minors, treatment that they want and deserve. Back in June, the state—the-- released a report which falsely stated that gender affirming care was ineffective, and under-researched. A team of scientists and a law professor at Yale University subsequently criticized that report for lying on pseudoscience, and making misleading claims.
And this is only the latest action taken by the state that discriminates against members of the LGBT community, like late last month. A new law that critics called the Don't Say Gay bill took effect which restricted educators can teach, or say in the classroom, about sexual identity and gender diversity.
