Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families with transgender children. The Supreme Court is 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 currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
The ban has had a significant impact on the young people affected, as it has disrupted their typical experiences of adolescence by highlighting their transgender identities.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
Some families quickly left their homes and schools after Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for their children. Other families stayed behind, sacrificing holidays and expenses to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Even individuals who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are considering the option 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 support of the ban, which was enacted last year, could worsen the care available for their children, especially with the upcoming Trump administration promising to impose more restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, explained how difficult it is to constantly have to defend not choosing a situation with no good outcomes. She likened it to a natural disaster affecting her family, altering their sense of well-being and identity.
Five families and three children agreed to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
I believe that as a parent, it is important to support your child if they come to you and express their true identity and needs.
The name Kristen Chapman
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