On Wednesday, a federal judge struck down Florida’s ban on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care.

In a scathing 54-page opinion overturning the ban championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle wrote, “Gender identity is real.”

Florida chose to block payment for some treatments “for political reasons,” the ruling reads, using a biased and unscientific process.

“Pushing individuals away from their transgender identity is not a legitimate state interest,” Hinkle asserted.

The court ruled Florida’s order denying Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care violates the federal Medicaid statute, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Affordable Care Act.