The debate over medical care for transgender children continues in Tennessee. After the Supreme Court heard a case about the state’s ban on transgender care for minors, FOX 17 News spoke with the loved one of a transgender young adult who recently took their own life.
Lawmakers say there are other options for these children, but critics of the ban believe it could lead to more suicides. Some argue there’s no evidence to support this claim.
Serenity Birdsong, a 21-year-old transgender student at MTSU, passed away by suicide two months ago. Her girlfriend, Delanie Dempsey, remembers her fondly but shared that Birdsong struggled with depression, anxiety, and a lack of acceptance from those close to her.
Dempsey believes if Birdsong had received hormone therapy and had been accepted earlier in life, she might still be alive today. She argues that supporting and accepting transgender children is vital.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the state’s transgender care ban worries Dempsey. She fears that keeping the ban in place could result in more suicides. A 2020 report from the NIH showed that 82% of transgender people have considered suicide, with the highest rates among youth.
State Representative William Lamberth, who co-sponsored the bill banning transgender care for children, disagrees. He believes that suicide cannot be linked to the ban and that there are many factors involved. He also claims that puberty blockers and other treatments can be harmful, citing the American College of Pediatricians, a conservative group.
Lamberth suggests that instead of medical treatments, children should receive support from family and counseling. He believes it’s unwise to rush into medical treatments without fully understanding the underlying issues.
In memory of her girlfriend, Dempsey hopes the Supreme Court will make what she believes is the right decision, while Lamberth maintains that protecting children is the priority.