The families of 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 currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families with transgender children. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to the ban on Wednesday.
The ban has had a significant impact on the lives of young people who are transgender, causing their typical experiences of adolescence to be overshadowed by this aspect of their identity.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Reporting live from Nashville
Some families quickly left their homes and schools after Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children. Other families stayed behind, making sacrifices like reducing vacation and holiday spending to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Some people who have decided to stay in Tennessee are still considering the option of moving away in the future.
Families are feeling extremely anxious 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 new administration’s plans to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter following the passing of the law, expressed the challenges of constantly having to explain that the situation was not a choice and there are no favorable options. She likened the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family, as it alters their way of being and sense of 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, if your child confides in you about their identity and needs, your role as a parent is to offer them your support.
Kristen Chapman
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