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 currently reviewing a legal challenge against this ban.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing families to face difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
The ban has had a significant impact on the everyday lives of young people who are transgender, overshadowing their typical adolescent experiences.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
Some families left Tennessee quickly after the state banned gender-transition care for their children, leaving their homes and schools behind. Others decided to stay, sacrificing holidays and other expenses to travel out of state for medical appointments.
There are people who have chosen to remain in Tennessee for now, but they are not completely closing the door on the idea of leaving the state at some
Families are feeling very anxious as the Supreme Court discusses a challenge to a Tennessee law. They worry that if the ban is upheld, it could make things even more difficult for their children, especially with the new Trump administration planning to enforce restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter following the passing of a new law, expressed the challenges of constantly having to explain that she didn’t choose the situation and there are no good choices. She likened the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family, altering her usual state of being and sense of safety.
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, as a parent, it is your responsibility to provide them with the support they require.
Kristen Chapman
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