Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families with transgender children. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing families of transgender children to face difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is set to review a legal challenge to the ban on Wednesday.
The ban has impacted children and teenagers, causing their typical experiences during adolescence to be influenced by their transgender identity.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
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As soon as Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families decided to leave, moving out of their homes and withdrawing their kids from school. Other families stayed behind, making sacrifices like reducing holiday spending and canceling vacations in order to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Some residents who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of relocating elsewhere in the future.
Families are feeling a lot of pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could make it even harder to care for their children, especially with the new Trump administration promising to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, expressed the challenge of having to constantly explain that she did not choose the situation and there are no favorable choices available. She likened the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family dynamics and sense of security.
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, when your child tells you who they are and what they need, it is your responsibility as a parent to give them your support.
The name is Kristen
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