Tennessee’s ban on medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families with transgender children. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
Families with transgender children in Tennessee are facing difficult decisions due to the state’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has impacted children and teenagers, causing their typical adolescent experiences to be complicated by their transgender identity. This has overshadowed their normal development. Credit to Lucy Garrett for The New York Times.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Sending updates from Nashville
Some families decided to leave Tennessee after the state banned gender-transition care for their children, while others stayed behind and made sacrifices such as cutting back on expenses to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Some people who currently reside in Tennessee have not completely dismissed the idea of moving away in the future, even though they have chosen to stay for now.
Families are feeling extremely worried as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are concerned that if the ban is upheld, it could make it even harder to care for their transgender children, especially with the incoming Trump administration promising restrictions on transgender rights.
Kristen Chapman, who left Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, explained that constantly having to explain that there were no good options and that she did not choose this situation required her to adapt to a different way of living. She likened the experience to a natural disaster within her family, as it altered her sense of self and comfort.
Five families and three children agreed to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, as a parent, it is important to support your child when they come to you and express who they are and what they need.
The name Kristen Chapman
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