Tennessee’s ban on certain medical care for transgender youth is creating difficult decisions for families with transgender children. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to this ban.
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 lives of young people who are transgender, overshadowing their usual experiences as adolescents.
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Written by Emily Cochrane
Reporting live from Nashville
Some families decided to leave immediately after Tennessee prohibited gender-transition care for children, resulting in empty homes and children being pulled out of school. Those who stayed behind made sacrifices, such as reducing vacations and holiday spending, in order to travel out of state for necessary doctor appointments.
Some people who have chosen to remain in Tennessee are still considering the option of relocating in the future.
Families are feeling immense pressure as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to a Tennessee law. They are concerned that a decision in support of the ban could negatively impact their ability to care for their transgender children, especially with the incoming Trump administration promising to impose more restrictions on their lives.
Kristen Chapman, who moved from Tennessee with her teenage daughter following the passage of the law, described the experience as having to adapt to a new way of living where there are no favorable choices. She likened it to a family experiencing a natural disaster, as it alters their sense of normalcy and comfort.
Five families and three children agreed to be interviewed anonymously because they were afraid of facing retaliation and ongoing harassment.
In my opinion, if your child tells you who they are and what they need, it is your responsibility as a parent to provide them with support.
Name: Kristen Chapman
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