Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families. The Supreme Court will review a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing families to make difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has had an impact on the lives of young people, as their typical experiences of growing up are now also influenced by their transgender identity.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
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Some families quickly left Tennessee after the state banned gender-transition care for their children, while others stayed behind and made sacrifices like reducing vacation and Christmas expenses to travel out of state for necessary medical appointments.
Some people who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of moving away in the future.
Families are feeling extremely anxious about the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday regarding Tennessee’s law. They are worried that a decision in favor of the ban, which was enacted last year, could make it even harder to provide care for their children. This concern is compounded by the incoming Trump administration’s promise to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, expressed the challenges of constantly having to explain that there were no ideal choices in the situation. She compared the experience to a natural disaster that alters the dynamics within a family and affects one’s sense of comfort and well-being.
Five families’ parents and three children agreed to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity, expressing fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, as a parent, it is important to support your child when they come to you and express their identity and needs.
The name is Kristen
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