Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing families of transgender children to face difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has had a significant impact on the lives of young people who are transgender, as it has disrupted their typical experiences during adolescence.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
After Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families decided to leave immediately, leaving their homes and taking their children out of school. Others stayed behind, adjusting their budgets by reducing vacation and holiday spending in order to travel out of state for necessary doctor appointments.
Some individuals who have chosen to remain in Tennessee have not completely dismissed the idea of moving away from the state at some point in the future.
The families are feeling immense pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are concerned that if the ban is upheld, it could impact the care of their children, especially with the incoming Trump administration planning to impose restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, expressed how challenging it is to constantly remind oneself that they didn’t choose their circumstances and there are no favorable choices available. She likened the situation to a natural disaster within the family, as it alters one’s sense of self and comfort.
Parents from five different families, along with three of the children, were willing to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity. They expressed worries about potential retaliation and ongoing harassment as their reasons for wanting to keep their identities confidential.
In my opinion, if your child tells you who they are and what they need, as a parent, your responsibility is to be there to support and help them.
The name Kristen Chapman
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