Tennessee’s ban on certain medical treatments for transgender youth is causing families of transgender children to face difficult decisions. The Supreme Court is set to hear a legal challenge regarding this ban on Wednesday.
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 the ban on Wednesday.
The ban has impacted children and teenagers who are transgender, causing their typical experiences during adolescence to be overshadowed by this additional aspect of their identity.
Backed by
Written by Emily Cochrane
Writing from the city
Some families left promptly after Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for minors, while others decided to stay and made sacrifices like reducing expenses on holidays to afford out-of-state medical appointments for their children.
Some people who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of moving away in the future.
Families are feeling immense pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are worried that if the ban is upheld, it could impact the care their children receive, especially with the incoming Trump administration promising restrictions on transgender individuals.
Kristen Chapman, who relocated from Tennessee with her teenage daughter following the enactment of a new law, described the experience as forcing her to adjust to a new way of living where she constantly has to explain that she did not have a choice in the matter and there are no favorable options available. She likened it to experiencing a natural disaster within her family, as it alters her sense of self and comfort.
Five sets of parents and three children from different families agreed to participate in interviews on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, as a parent, it is important to support your child when they express their identity and needs to you.
The name is Kristen
We are currently experiencing difficulties in accessing the content of the article.
To use this website properly, make sure to activate JavaScript in
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access. If you are currently in Reader mode, please close it and sign in to your Times account, or consider subscribing to gain access to all of The Times.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access.
Are you currently a member? Sign in to your account.
Interested in accessing all of The Times? Subscribe now to gain full
Prom
Index of the website
Navigation to find information on