Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing families to make difficult decisions. The Supreme Court will be reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing families of transgender children 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 children and teenagers who are transgender, causing their typical experiences of adolescence to be disrupted.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
After Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families quickly left their homes and withdrew their kids from school. Other families decided to stay, but had to make sacrifices like reducing vacation trips and cutting back on Christmas expenses in order to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Some people who have chosen 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 immense pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could worsen the situation for their children, especially with the new Trump administration promising to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who moved from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was passed, expressed the difficulty of constantly having to explain that she did not choose her circumstances and had no good options. She compared the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family, altering her sense of self and comfort.
Five families’ parents and three children agreed to participate in interviews anonymously due to fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, if your child comes to you and reveals their identity and needs, it is important for you as a parent to support them in their journey.
Kristen Chapman
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