Families of Trans Kids Worry About What’s Next

Introduction to the Issue

A U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors is leaving transgender children and their parents uncertain and anxious about the future. The court handed President Trump’s administration and Republican-led states a significant victory by effectively protecting them from at least some of the legal challenges against many efforts to repeal safeguards for transgender people.

Background of the Case

The case stems from a Tennessee law banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors. Opponents of gender-affirming care say people who transition when they’re young could later regret it. Families of transgender children argue the ban amounts to unlawful sex discrimination and violates the constitutional rights of vulnerable Americans.

Student Says Ruling Creates an Unwelcome World

Eli Givens, who is transgender and testified against Tennessee’s gender-affirming care bill in 2023, said it’s devastating that lawmakers “who have called us degenerates, have told us that we’re living in fiction” are celebrating the court’s ruling. The nonbinary college student from Spring Hill received mastectomy surgery in 2022 at age 17. They said the legislation inspired their advocacy, and they attended the Supreme Court arguments in the case last December, on their 20th birthday. “We’re not making a world that trans youth are welcomed or allowed to be a part of,” Givens said. “And so, it’s just a really scary kind of future we might have.”

Conservative Activists Take Credit

Chloe Cole, a conservative activist known for speaking about her gender-transition reversal, posted on social media after the court’s decision that “every child in America is now safer.” Cole was cited as an example by Tennessee Republicans as one of the reasons the law was needed. Matt Walsh, an activist who was one of the early backers of Tennessee’s law, applauded the high court. Three years ago, Walsh shared videos on social media of a doctor saying gender-affirming procedures are “huge moneymakers” for hospitals and a staffer saying anyone with a religious objection should quit.

Fears of What’s Next After Supreme Court Decision

Rosie Emrich is worried the court decision will embolden legislators in New Hampshire, where legislation banning hormone treatments and puberty blockers for children is expected to reach the governor’s desk. Lawmakers are weighing whether to block the treatments from minors already receiving them, like Emrich’s 9-year-old child. “It’s definitely disappointing, and I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to talk to my kid about it,” Emrich said.

A Move Across the Country and Other Hurdles

Erica Barker and her family moved from Jackson, Mississippi, to North Las Vegas, Nevada, a little over two years ago so one of her children could start receiving gender-affirming care. Barker’s transgender daughter, then 12, had been in therapy for three years, and the family agreed it was time for medical treatments. Mississippi passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors the next year, which Barker said she saw coming.

Mother Says Gender-Affirming Care Saves Lives

Sarah Moskanos, who lives near Milwaukee, said her 14-year-old transgender daughter went through nearly a decade of counseling before she started medical gender-affirming care but has been sure since the age of 4 that she identified as a girl. “I would say that there is decades of research on this very thing,” she said. “And we know what works and we know what will save trans kids’ lives is gender-affirming care.”

Vowing Not to Disappear

Mo Jenkins, a 26-year-old transgender Texas native and legislative staffer at the state Capitol, said she began taking hormone therapy at 16 years old and has been on and off treatment since then. “My transition was out of survival,” Jenkins said. Texas outlawed gender-affirming care for minors two years ago, and in May, the Legislature passed a bill tightly defining a man and a woman by their sex characteristics. “I’m not surprised at the ruling. I am disheartened,” Jenkins said. “Trans people are not going to disappear.”

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors has sent shockwaves throughout the transgender community, leaving many families worried about the future. With conservative activists celebrating the ruling and lawmakers in other states considering similar bans, the road ahead for transgender youth and their families looks uncertain. Despite the challenges, many are vowing to continue fighting for the rights of transgender individuals, emphasizing the importance of gender-affirming care in saving lives.

FAQs

1. What is gender-affirming care?
   Gender-affirming care refers to medical treatments and therapies designed to support transgender individuals in transitioning to their identified gender. This can include hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgery.
2. Why are some states banning gender-affirming care for minors?
   Some states are banning gender-affirming care for minors due to concerns that young people may later regret their decision to transition. Opponents of gender-affirming care argue that it is not appropriate for minors, who they believe may not have the maturity to make such significant decisions about their bodies.
3. What are the potential consequences of banning gender-affirming care for minors?
   Banning gender-affirming care for minors can have severe consequences for transgender youth, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. It can also lead to families feeling forced to move to other states in search of care, causing significant disruption to their lives.
4. What can be done to support transgender youth and their families?
   Supporting transgender youth and their families requires a comprehensive approach that includes access to gender-affirming care, education, and advocacy. It is essential to listen to the experiences and concerns of transgender individuals and their families, and to work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.