Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth has put families in a difficult position. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing families of transgender children to face difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
The ban has had a significant impact on the lives of young people who are transgender, as it has overshadowed their typical experiences during adolescence.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Reporting live from Nashville
After Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families decided to leave immediately, leaving their homes and withdrawing their children from school. Others opted to stay, sacrificing vacations and reducing Christmas expenses to travel out of state for their children’s medical appointments.
Some residents who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of moving away in the future.
Families are feeling extreme pressure as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could put their children’s care at risk, especially with the incoming Trump administration promising to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, expressed the challenge of constantly having to explain that she did not choose the situation and that there are no favorable options. She likened the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family, altering her sense of well-being and identity.
Five families and three children agreed to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of reprisal and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, when your child comes to you and tells you about their identity and needs, it’s important for you as a parent to be there to support and accept them.
A person named Kristen
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