Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
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 are transgender, affecting their usual experiences during adolescence.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Live from Nashville
Some families quickly left Tennessee after the state banned gender-transition care for their children, leading to empty homes and withdrawn students. Those who stayed behind made sacrifices, like reducing vacations and holiday spending, in order to travel out of state for necessary doctor appointments.
Some residents who have chosen to remain in Tennessee have admitted that they have not dismissed the idea of relocating in the future.
Families are feeling extreme pressure as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that a decision in favor of the ban, which was passed recently, could put their children’s care at risk, especially with the new Trump administration planning to impose restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, expressed the challenge of constantly having to navigate a situation where there are no ideal choices. She likened it to experiencing a personal disaster that alters one’s sense of normalcy and comfort.
Parents from five additional families, along with three of the children, were willing to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, as a parent, it is important to support your child when they come to you with their identity and needs.
Kristen Chapman
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