Misty Stamm dedicated countless hours to sorting out the logistics: waking up early, enduring lengthy drives, securing hotel accommodations, and locating doctors authorized to provide gender-affirming hormone therapy for her 16-year-old transgender daughter.
According to a recent report from the Campaign for Southern Equality Research and Policy Center, Stamm and other parents in states with legislation restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender youth are facing significant challenges. They are forced to travel long distances and incur high expenses in order to access the necessary care for their children.
Stamm expressed that without the care provided, he believes his loved one would not have survived.
When her family first started considering care options, Stamm, who resides in Tennessee, made a five-hour journey to take her daughter to a gender clinic in Ohio. Her intention was to ensure that her daughter received in-person medical attention.
Stamm and her daughter have recently sought the services of a telehealth provider in Virginia as a result of the upcoming implementation of gender-affirming care restrictions in Ohio.
They still need to travel for two hours to Virginia to attend the online appointment, in order to comply with Tennessee law. This law also prohibits telehealth providers from offering medical care and treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies to minors in the state.
In an interview with ABC News, Stamm expressed her belief that the time, effort, and money they invest in accessing healthcare is justified.
According to Stamm, when she publicly announced her transgender identity at the age of 13, she noticed a significant improvement in her mental health. This revelation provided affirmation and reassurance that transitioning was indeed the right decision for her.
Stamm’s daughter has been receiving counseling and therapy since fifth grade to address her mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.
When Stamm’s daughter turned 14, she was given puberty blockers to temporarily halt the progression of her physical sex characteristics. As she got older, the family and doctors collaborated to make the decision to proceed with hormone therapy. They sought guidance from psychologists and therapists throughout the entire process, ensuring that necessary approvals were obtained.
Stamm assured that surgery or any similar procedures were not being discussed for the child, emphasizing that it would be a decision she could make when she reached adulthood.
In the meantime, her mental health has greatly improved. Stamm mentioned that her daughter has been discharged by her therapist and now only visits occasionally, when necessary.
“She is thriving and it is crucial for us to have access to the necessary resources. It is imperative for her well-being.”
According to the Southern Equality report, individuals may incur significant costs, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, for expenses such as gas, airfare, lodging, and other necessities when traveling across state lines to access gender-affirming care.
Stamm explains that she and her husband have spent a considerable amount of money on travel expenses to receive medical care. They are eagerly looking forward to the day when their daughter turns 18, as it will grant her easier access to the necessary healthcare.
According to a report by the Southern Equality Research and Policy Center, families in the South and Midwest may have to spend nearly 20 hours driving roundtrip to reach a state where trans youth care is legally available.
Families with transgender children in southern Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas are facing the most significant challenges, as stated in the report. The report reveals that these families would have to endure a car journey of over eight hours each way in order to access a clinic that provides services for transgender youth.
Jennifer, a resident of Austin, Texas, who prefers to remain anonymous for safety reasons, shared that the health care bans in her state caused significant upheaval for her family. They were faced with both logistical and financial challenges as a result.
The appointments for her 15-year-old daughter to start hormone therapy were canceled even before the Texas law took effect. Unfortunately, when they tried to find care in Louisiana, they faced more canceled appointments from providers.
She reached out to local advocacy organizations for assistance in locating a provider in New Mexico, the neighboring state to Texas.
Jennifer expressed her concern about the increasing costs associated with medical care. She acknowledged that she and her family are fortunate enough to afford plane tickets, hotel accommodations, and out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatments. However, she highlighted that many individuals may not have the financial means to access such resources.
Telehealth has undoubtedly increased access to healthcare services, but certain policies, such as those implemented in Tennessee, impose limitations on online prescription appointments within the state. Consequently, families like the Stamms are compelled to seek virtual consultations across state lines.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who endorsed the ban on gender-affirming care, has staunchly defended the legislation in the face of legal challenges.
“Tennessee’s dedication to safeguarding children from irreversible and life-changing choices is unwavering,” expressed Lee in a recent post on the social media platform X. This statement follows the Justice Department’s claim that the law infringes upon the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”
Supporters who advocate for bans on gender-affirming medical care contend that children ought to postpone making these medical decisions until they reach an appropriate age. They argue that further research is necessary to fully understand the effects of these procedures on patients.
The state, in its court filings opposing the ban, references the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. This landmark decision overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated federal safeguards for abortion rights.
The state maintains that Dobbs grants states the authority to regulate medical treatments and that it does not discriminate against transgender individuals since not all of them undergo puberty blockers, hormones, or surgery.
The state’s filing asserts that it is the people’s elected representatives who should be entrusted with the responsibility of choosing between divergent views, and the Court should recognize and respect these differing perspectives.
The Tennessee Legislature is currently reviewing a bill that has the potential to classify assisting a minor in receiving gender-affirming care outside of the state as a felony, in the absence of parental consent.
Transgender care for individuals under 18 has become a subject of debate among state politicians in recent years. This issue affects a relatively small portion of the population, estimated to be less than 1.5% of those aged 13-17, as per researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, trans youth face an elevated risk of experiencing various health challenges, including poor mental health, suicide, substance use, violence, and other health risks. These challenges are often attributed to discrimination, stigma, and the stress associated with gender-related issues.
Major national medical associations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, along with over 20 others, have consistently emphasized the safety, effectiveness, and medical necessity of gender-affirming care.
Jennifer responded to criticism over transgender medical care, emphasizing the importance of allowing individuals to live in their true identity. According to her, this is crucial for preserving their mental health.
Jennifer and Stamm want lawmakers to understand that they are a regular, normal family as they seek out care options.
“I want them to view us as individuals,” Jennifer expressed. “We are their neighbors, the ones who educate their children in school, and the ones they collaborate with at work.”
According to Stamm, “She is simply a normal child, trying to live a normal life. This situation has brought numerous challenges for her, and we feel alone in dealing with them. Our support system is limited and close-knit. Hopefully, others will show more empathy towards our struggles and recognize the absurdity of the circumstances.”
