Egerton Family Relocates Amid Transgender Care Restrictions in Texas
In early June, the Egerton family left Austin, Texas, for Concord, Massachusetts, citing safety concerns related to transgender rights. Owen and Jodi Egerton had lived in their 1,000-square-foot bungalow for 18 years, where their 14-year-old daughter, Willow, was born. Willow, who identifies as transgender, faced increasing challenges in Texas due to new laws restricting transgender youth care.
Texas state officials had ordered child abuse investigations into parents providing transgender-related healthcare, and a new law banning puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors was imminent. Consequently, the Egertons decided to relocate to a state with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.
Arriving in Massachusetts three days later, the family settled near Walden Pond, where Willow felt immediate relief from both the state's oppressive heat and restrictive policies. Massachusetts has legislated protections for patients and providers of transgender care and is considering additional bills to expand LGBTQ+ rights.
The Egertons are part of a broader trend of families moving from states with restrictive transgender laws to ones offering better protections. This migration reflects significant regional divides in the U.S. regarding transgender rights and healthcare.