Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
Families with transgender children in Tennessee are facing difficult decisions due to the state’s ban on certain types of medical care for transgender youth. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has had a significant impact on the everyday lives of young people who are transgender, overshadowing their typical experiences of adolescence.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Reporting live from the
Some families decided to leave Tennessee quickly after the state prohibited gender-transition care for their children, leaving their homes and withdrawing from school. Other families decided to stay, adjusting their budgets by reducing vacation and Christmas expenses in order to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Some people who have chosen to stay in Tennessee are still considering the option of moving away in the future.
Families are feeling immense pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are concerned that a decision in support of the ban, enacted last year, could worsen the situation for their children, especially with the new Trump administration planning to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who moved from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was passed, expressed the difficulty of constantly having to explain that she did not have a choice and that there were no good options available. She likened the experience to a natural disaster within her family, as it altered their way of life and sense of comfort.
Parents from five different families, along with three of the children, agreed to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity. They were worried about potential backlash and ongoing harassment if their identities were revealed.
In my opinion, as a parent, it is important to support your child if they come to you and express their true identity and needs.
Kristen Chapman
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