Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing families to make difficult decisions. A legal challenge to this ban is being heard by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
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 set to hear a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has had a significant impact on the lives of young people who are transgender, making it difficult for them to have typical experiences of adolescence.
Backed by
Authored by Emily Cochr
Reporting live 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 like skipping vacations and reducing holiday spending to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Some people who have decided to remain in Tennessee have not completely dismissed the idea of moving away from the state at some point in the future.
Families are feeling incredibly anxious as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that a decision supporting the ban could threaten the care of their children, especially with the upcoming Trump administration promising to restrict the lives of transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who moved from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, expressed the challenges of constantly having to explain that she did not choose the situation and that there are no favorable choices. She compared the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family dynamics and sense of comfort.
Parents from five different families, along with three children, were willing to participate in interviews as long as their identities remained anonymous. They expressed fears of facing retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, when your child tells you about their identity and needs, it is your role as a parent to provide them with support and acceptance.
Kristen Chapman
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the article’s content.
To use this website properly, make sure JavaScript is enabled in
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access. If you are currently using Reader mode, please close it and sign in to your Times account, or consider subscribing to access all content from The Times.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm access.
Have you already signed up for a subscription? If so,
Interested in receiving all of The Times content? Simply subscribe to gain
Prom
Index of the Website
Navigation for Site Information