They would explore the Museum of Science and Industry and, on the way home, stop at a beloved candy store. Jennilyn Nichols wanted their trip to Chicago to be defined by happy memories rather than a response to a law she called intrusive. But many patients still scrambled to continue receiving treatment.

On June 16, a federal judge blocked parts of Indiana’s law from going into effect on July 1. Advocates and families impacted by the recent laws say such care is vital for trans kids. Opponents of gender-affirming care say there’s no solid proof of purported benefits, cite widely discredited research and say children shouldn’t make life-altering decisions they might regret. and have been endorsed by major medical associations. For more than a decade prior, such treatments were available to children and teens across the U.S.

Eric Holcomb signed a law banning transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and other hormone therapies, even after the approval of parents and the advice of doctors.Īt least 20 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for trans minors, though several are embroiled in legal challenges. They began to search for medical providers outside of Indiana after April 5, when Republican Gov. The following afternoon, Flower and Jennilyn Nichols would see a doctor at the University of Chicago to learn whether they could keep Flower, 11, on puberty blockers. The family was determined to make it feel like an adventure in the city, though that wasn’t the primary purpose of the trip. CHICAGO - On an early morning in June, Flower Nichols and her mother set off on an expedition to Chicago from their home in Indianapolis.

Flower drawing sketch