Parents in Hamilton County, Ohio, lost custody of their child – after refusing to allow their daughter to take hormone injections that would make her appear more like a man.
The family has not been identified publicly, as part of Judge Sylvia Sieve Hendon’s ruling.
The child, 17, was born female but identifies as male. However, the child’s parents refused to allow hormone treatment or called the child by a male name – which, according to court testimony, triggered suicidal feelings. The parents also sought custody to make medical decisions for the teen.
The parents had argued that their child was not “even close to being able to make a life-altering decision at this time.” Prosecutors, however, claimed that the parents felt motivated by their religious beliefs, rather than the child’s well-being.
Herndon sided against the parents – and gave custody of the 17-year-old to the child’s grandparents.
The grandparents’ health insurance will now cover the teen, and, as the teen’s legal guardians, the grandparents will be able to petition the court to change the child’s name.
Hendon, however, did give the parents visitation rights and “encouraged” the entire family to work towards becoming closer again. Hendon also ordered that the teen will have to undergo a psychological evaluation with a different doctor before any hormone treatment is allowed.
Hendon also encouraged Ohio lawmakers to settle the issue of who can consent to gender therapy for minors.
“What is clear from the testimony presented in this case and the increasing worldwide interest in transgender care is that there is certainly a reasonable expectation that circumstances similar to the one at bar are likely to repeat themselves,” Judge Hendon wrote. “That type of legislation would give a voice and a pathway to youth similarly situated as [the teen] without attributing fault to the parents and involving them in protracted litigation which can and does destroy a family unit.”
AAN Staff
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