Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families with transgender children. The Supreme Court will be reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
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 set to review a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has affected children and teenagers, causing their typical experiences of adolescence to be overshadowed by the fact that they identify as transgender.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
After Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families decided to leave immediately, abandoning their homes and withdrawing their children from school. Others opted to stay, reducing their expenses on holidays and gifts in order to afford traveling out of state for medical appointments.
Even those who have chosen to remain in Tennessee have not completely dismissed the idea of moving elsewhere at some point in the future.
Families are feeling immense pressure as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could negatively impact care for their children, especially with the upcoming restrictions on transgender rights promised by the Trump administration.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter following the passing of a law, expressed the challenges of constantly having to explain that there were no favorable choices in the situation. She likened the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family dynamics and sense of well-being.
Five other families and three children agreed to participate in interviews anonymously due to fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, when your child comes to you and expresses their identity and needs, it is your role as a parent to provide them with support and understanding.
The name is Kristen
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