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 with transgender children. The Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to this ban on Wednesday.
The ban has significantly impacted the lives of children and teenagers, as they are not only going through typical adolescent experiences but also dealing with being transgender.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
Some families quickly left Tennessee after the state banned gender-transition care for their children, while others stayed behind and made sacrifices such as cutting back on expenses to travel out of state for doctor appointments.
There are still some people who have chosen to remain in Tennessee but have not completely dismissed the idea of leaving the state at some point in the future.
Families are feeling extreme pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to the Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could negatively impact the care their children receive, especially with the incoming Trump administration promising to impose restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter after the law was enacted, explained that dealing with the situation made her feel like she had to adopt a completely different mindset. She described it as similar to experiencing a natural disaster within her own family, as it altered her sense of comfort 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.
In my opinion, if your child expresses their true self and needs to you, it is your responsibility as a parent to provide them with support.
The name is Kristen
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