Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families with transgender children. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
Families with 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 reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has significantly impacted the lives of children and teenagers, who are not only going through typical adolescent experiences but also identify as transgender.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from Nashville
Some families quickly left their homes and withdrew their children from school after Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for minors. Others decided to stay, prioritizing medical appointments out of state by reducing expenses on holidays and vacations.
There are still people who have chosen to remain in Tennessee, but they have not completely dismissed the idea of leaving the state at some point in the future
Families are feeling extreme pressure as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are concerned that a decision supporting the ban could put their children’s care at risk, especially with the upcoming Trump administration imposing more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who left Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was passed, shared that dealing with the situation made her adopt a new way of thinking. She felt like she had to constantly explain that she didn’t choose the circumstances and that there were no good choices available. It felt like a family tragedy had occurred, impacting how she felt and behaved.
Parents from five more families, as well as three of the children, were willing 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 important for you as a parent to offer them your support.
The name Kristen Chapman
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