Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing difficult decisions for families. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is causing families of transgender children to face difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is set to review a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has significantly impacted the lives of children and teenagers who are transgender, as it has overshadowed their typical adolescent experiences. Photo credit goes to Lucy Garrett for The New York Times.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from Nashville
After Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, some families promptly left their homes and withdrew their children from school. Other families decided to stay but had to make sacrifices, such as reducing vacation and holiday expenses, in order to travel out of state for necessary medical appointments.
Some individuals who have chosen to remain in Tennessee still consider the option of relocating in the future.
Families are feeling extremely anxious as the Supreme Court reviews a challenge to the Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could put their children’s care at risk, especially with the new Trump administration planning to impose more 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 navigate a situation where there are no good choices. She likened the experience to a natural disaster within her family, altering her sense of self and comfort.
Five families’ parents and three children agreed to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation and ongoing mistreatment.
In my opinion, when your child tells you who they are and what they need, it is your responsibility as a parent to provide them with support.
The name is Kristen
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