Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is creating 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 treatments for transgender youth is causing families of these children to make difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban, which restricts access to specific types of medical care for transgender individuals under the age of 18.
The ban has had a significant impact on the everyday lives of young people who are transgender, as it has affected their typical experiences of adolescence.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from Nashville
Some families quickly left Tennessee after the state banned gender-transition care for their children, while others decided to stay and make sacrifices in order to continue their children’s treatment by traveling out of state for doctor appointments.
Some people who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of leaving the state at some point in the future.
Families are feeling extremely anxious as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to Tennessee’s law. They are concerned that a decision in support of the ban could worsen the already precarious situation 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 following the passing of the law, expressed the challenge of constantly having to explain the lack of good choices and the feeling of being forced into a situation without choice. She likened the experience to a natural disaster that alters one’s sense of self and comfort.
Five families and three children agreed to be interviewed on the condition of anonymity due to fears of reprisal and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, as a parent, it is important to support your child when they express their identity and needs to you. Your role is to stand by them and provide them with the support they need.
The name Kristen Chapman
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