Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families. The Supreme Court is set to review a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing families to make 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 children and teenagers who are transgender, as it has overshadowed their typical adolescent experiences.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
After Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families left quickly, leaving behind their homes and schools. Others decided to stay but had to make sacrifices like canceling vacations and reducing Christmas spending in order to travel out of state for necessary doctor appointments.
Some individuals who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of relocating in the future.
Families are feeling extreme pressure as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that a decision supporting the ban could negatively impact their children’s care, 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 being in a situation where you have to constantly remind yourself that you didn’t choose this and there are no good options requires a whole new way of coping. It feels like a natural disaster has struck your family, altering how you perceive yourself and where you feel comfortable.
Five families’ parents 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 approaches you and expresses their true identity and needs, it is your responsibility as a parent to provide them with support.
The name Kristen Chapman
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