Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families with transgender children. 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 reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has significantly impacted the daily lives of young people who are transgender, causing their usual experiences as adolescents to be overshadowed by this aspect of their identity.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from Nashville
When Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families decided to leave immediately, leaving their homes and taking their children out of school. Others opted to stay, adjusting their budgets by reducing vacation and holiday expenses in order to travel out of state for medical appointments.
Some people who have decided to stay in Tennessee are still considering the option of moving away in the future.
Families are feeling extremely anxious as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could worsen the care their children receive, especially with the new Trump administration promising to impose restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, expressed the challenges of constantly having to explain that she didn’t choose the situation and that there are no favorable options. She likened the experience to a natural disaster within her family, altering her sense of self and comfort.
Parents from five different families, along with three of the children, only agreed to be interviewed under the condition of anonymity. They expressed worries about potential backlash and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, if your child comes to you and expresses their true self and needs, your role as a parent is to offer them your support.
Kristen Chapman
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