We’re sure you’re familiar with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, who has no time for activist media and makes no bones about it. You might not have heard of Jeremy Redfern, who’s the press secretary for the Florida Department of Health and takes the Pushaw approach when dealing with hostile media outlets. Brianna Ellis of CBS Orlando recently reached out to Redfern to confirm what she was hearing: the Florida Department of Health was banning access to gender-affirming care for people under 18. Did he have a press release to share?
Redfern’s first response: “I’m not sure what you mean by ‘gender-affirming care.’ Can you please define?”
A short class on dealing with media activists. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/M73MWzxSM3
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 31, 2022
“By ‘gender-affirming care’ you mean puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and double mastectomies for young/teenaged girls, right?” he added after being sent the HHS definition.
Really having a hard time, here. pic.twitter.com/nDppiJTQ2t
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 31, 2022
CBS Orlando believed it had been sufficient in its request: “I’m not sure what you are getting at by asking our assignment editor their personal opinion on the term ‘gender-affirming care.'” Redfern replied: “I’m not asking for any personal opinion. I’m asking why you referred to it as ‘gender-affirming care’ instead of using an objective term such as “double mastectomies for children with gender dysphoria.”
And now the backpedaling… pic.twitter.com/Y0VNH0sJ9b
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 31, 2022
The document that was inside of a document was available online the entire time.
Thanks for playing, @news6wkmg.
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 31, 2022
Incredible. Well done 👏
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 31, 2022
Master class.
— Ryan Petty (@rpetty) July 31, 2022
This is just of the many reasons I thank God every single day I’m a Floridian. You, sir, are a rock star!
— Stephanie (@dwightyoakamfan) July 31, 2022
Fantastic responses, ensuring that he won't be mis-quoted or attributed. Well done.
— C Sherman (@CSherma53534920) August 1, 2022
Based.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 1, 2022
"actually i don't really know what 'gender affirming care' means i'm just regurgitating democrat talking points in my totally unbiased request"
— Abigail Marone 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) July 31, 2022
Covering for the sterilization of children is an interesting road to take.
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) August 1, 2022
In other news, media starting to refer to abortion as “fetus affirming care”.
— Hootyman (@TheHootyman) August 1, 2022
The Biden administration announced on Trans Day of Visibility that it was fully on board with “gender-affirming care” for minors, ranging from toddlers’ hairstyles to puberty blockers to surgery.
Related:
BOOM: Christina Pushaw explains to Politico's Jack Shafer why Gov. DeSantis doesn't give interviews to the liberal media https://t.co/L4FRQKzOSm
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 28, 2022
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