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 treatments for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has significantly impacted the daily lives of young people who are transgender, overshadowing their typical adolescent experiences.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Updating from the city
Some families decided to leave immediately after Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, leaving their homes and withdrawing their children from school. Other families chose to stay, making sacrifices such as reducing vacation and holiday expenses in order to attend out-of-state doctor appointments.
Even individuals who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are open to the idea of potentially relocating in the future.
Families are feeling immense pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are concerned that a decision in support of the ban, which was enacted last year, could negatively impact the care their children receive, especially with the new Trump administration planning to implement restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was implemented, expressed the emotional toll of constantly having to explain that the situation was not her choice and that there were no favorable options available. She likened the experience to a natural disaster affecting her family, altering their sense of well-being and identity.
Parents from five different families, along with three of the children, consented to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of reprisal and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, if your child comes to you and expresses their identity and needs, it is important for you as a parent to be supportive of them.
Kristen Chapman
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