With states like Texas calling gender-affirming care for children "child abuse," we looked into effects on states like Illinois.

The transition from youth to adolescence can be anxiety-inducing, navigating the physical changes and social pressures to fit in. But for those who experience gender dysphoria -- the feeling that your gender doesn't match your biological sex -- adolescence can be especially traumatic. Support and care early on can make the difference between slipping between the cracks and thriving, as the stories of two transitioning youth show.

For people seeking transgender health services in Peoria, Illinois, chances are the first person they’ll talk to is Dana Garber. Garber is the transgender hormone intake coordinator at the Peoria Planned Parenthood, the only clinic in the area that offers hormone-replacement therapy for people seeking gender transition.