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 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 lives of young people who identify as transgender, causing their typical experiences of growing up to be different than their peers.
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Authored by Emily Cochr
Writing from the city
Some families quickly left Tennessee after the state banned gender-transition care for their children, while others stayed behind and made sacrifices to travel out of state for doctor appointments, such as cutting back on vacations and holiday spending.
Even individuals who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of moving away in the future.
Families are feeling extremely anxious as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could negatively impact their ability to care for their transgender children, especially with the Trump administration promising to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who moved away from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, described the experience as forcing her to adapt to a new way of living where she constantly has to explain that she didn’t have a choice and none of the options were good. She compared it to a natural disaster affecting her family, altering her sense of self and comfort.
Five families and three children consented to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, if your child opens up to you about their identity and needs, it is your role as a parent to be there for them and provide support.
The name is Kristen
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