Cecil Robinson is a writer for Campaign for Southern Equality.
Whether he’s hanging out with his friends, taking pictures or playing video games, 16-year-old Ethan is making the most of his teenage years. As a current junior in high school, Ethan, like many teenagers, just wants to relax and enjoy his time with his friends before graduating. But as an openly transgender teen, Ethan has been faced with adversity that many of his peers will not have to experience. This is in large part because Ethan lives in Tennessee, where state lawmakers have made it their mission to attack the rights of kids like him.
In just this past year, Tennessee introduced thirty-four anti-LGBTQ+ bills. The state has unfortunately been a leader in anti-LGBTQ+ law making, often being one of the first to pass new types of policies that directly target LGBTQ+ people. As a result, many transgender teens like Ethan are living in a hostile climate, and they feel the results. Transgender youth like Ethan can no longer access gender-affirming healthcare in their state, and must instead travel out-of-state on a regular basis to get lifesaving healthcare like hormone replacement therapy and puberty delaying medications.
Despite the continued passage of anti-LGBTQ+, and specifically anti-transgender, legislation in places like Tennessee, LGBTQ+ folks like Ethan remain steadfast that justice will prevail. In my conversation with Ethan, he spoke about his experience accessing gender-affirming care amidst the healthcare ban, and his hopes for the future of LGBTQ+ rights.
CECIL: THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US, ETHAN! COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AND IF YOU HAVE FACED RESTRICTIONS?
ETHAN: Thank you so much for having me! First and foremost, I want to say thank you to the Campaign for Southern Equality for the work that you all do and how appreciative of the organization I am for having impacted my life. My journey to seeking gender-affirming care started with me first having to come to terms with being trans, which initially was a really difficult process. But after I finally accepted who I was, and that being transgender could even be a possibility I then started wanting to go on testosterone. At first, I did not think it could be a reality because of the state that I reside in. I remember thinking that it might be hopeless or even possibly a longshot. Having to drive an hour and a half away to another state was not ideal, but it was certainly worth it. But now that I’ve had the opportunity to receive gender-affirming care, I feel more confident and secure in myself. It feels great not feeling as though I am constantly battling my body as it’s really difficult to live when you feel like you’re wrong all the time.
CECIL: WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND HOW LIFE-SAVING IT CAN BE. CAN YOU TELL US YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH RECEIVING CARE AND HOW IT ULTIMATELY MADE YOU FEEL?
ETHAN: Whenever I realized that the possibility of me getting on hormones could actually be a reality, I was ecstatic. This is what I had been working for so long, and it was finally happening, which still somewhat shocks me even today. For so long, you feel like it’s hopeless and that you’ll have to wait until you’re 18. But it’s truly a great feeling knowing that you can be the person you’ve always dreamed of becoming. I am finally living as the person I knew I was destined to become.
CECIL: YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO WISH TO ACCESS GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AND ARE NOT ABLE TO DO SO. HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED THEM?
ETHAN: With the rise in legislation attacking gender-affirming care, it has made it extremely difficult for those of my friends who are transgender to gain access to these lifesaving resources. Although my friends and I don’t speak directly about the impact of these bans, I know that it is having an impact on them in some way. Since I was actively receiving hormone treatment prior to the anti-transgender legislation in North Carolina, I am able to continue receiving treatment. But my friends were not receiving gender-affirming care in North Carolina prior to the ban, so they are not legally allowed to receive hormone therapy there now. My friends and many like them have to travel even farther for gender-affirming care now, which continues to put them in difficult places both mentally and emotionally.
Before I started on testosterone, I used to find myself jealous of those who could access it. I found myself feeling stuck and helpless because at the time, I was not able to live in my truth. And even though I am able to access testosterone, it makes me feel less comfortable in discussing my happy moments with hormones with my friends because it makes me feel guilty that I have access while my peers may not.
CECIL: WHAT ARE SOME WORDS OF ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE TO TRANS YOUTH WISHING TO SEEK GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE?
ETHAN: It’s not impossible! If you feel stuck in a situation that you feel as though you can’t escape from, just know that you’re not stuck. No one can stop you from doing what you want to do. Just know that at the end of it all, you can and will be happy even if that requires you to wait or requires you to travel to a space that will allow you to achieve happiness. Additionally, I’d say that educating yourself is also a vital key to the process in learning about hormones and possible side effects. I would also recommend using the internet, which can act as a safe haven for those who need a place to vent and meet others like themselves to share their lived experience as transgender people. This creates a safe place for people to come and feel secure, which may not always be the case in the real world.
CECIL: IN LIGHT OF THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILLS PASSED LAST YEAR, WHAT ARE YOU MOST HOPEFUL FOR IN 2024 FOR LGBTQ+ RIGHTS, SPECIFICALLY AS IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR?
ETHAN: I am hopeful that legislators will not restrict members of the LGBTQ+ community as much as they have done in the past. Whether they understand it or not, this is going to cost so many transgender youth their lives. With an already high percentage of transgender people, specifically youth, experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety – limiting gender-affirming care will only add to the already existing crisis. So many transgender people suffer from dysphoria, which can ultimately lead to a high risk of suicidal ideations. For me, having the ability to transition truly saved my life, and I believe that it can definitely save others. We have lawmakers advocating for children’s rights, but then when it comes to the lives of minorities they do not seem to care. So for this year, I am hoping for more empathy from leaders, so that trans youth can be free to be themselves without any restrictions.
