Torn Apart

A child down in Texas is being torn apart by the court system and she has been put in jeopardy by a judge who overturned a jury verdict that looked out for the child’s wellbeing.

A custody battle between parents who disagree on the gender of their 7-year-old draws attention of Texas politicians
CNN
By Jay Croft, Ashley Killough and Amir Vera\
October 26, 2019


(CNN)A Dallas judge has ruled that both parents should have joint custody of a 7-year-old whose gender identity became central to their court battle, which drew attention from politicians across Texas.

The judge's order came just days after a jury rendered a verdict giving the mother sole conservatorship of the child.

In her ruling, Judge Kim Cooks said a "substantial change in circumstances with child or parent," warranted her decision to award joint custody.
[…]
In 2018, Georgulas filed a lawsuit seeking to modify her custody agreement with Younger. She wanted Younger to affirm the child with a girl's name inside and outside the home, among other requests essentially forcing the father to embrace the child's gender expressions. Judge Kim Cooks ultimately denied the request, saying Friday that "the Court finds that the State of Texas has no compelling interest to justify such interference."

But the judge ruled that Georgulas did not make a request to be appointed sole managing conservator, nor did she make a request to surgically or chemically transition the child's sex or chemically castrate the child. Younger has previously accused Georgulas of wanting to medically transition the child.

So this being Texas you know that the Republican politicians had to step in.

Texas GOP leaders enter parents' battle over child's gender
CBS7
By Jamie Stengle and Clarice Silber Associated Press
October 25, 2019


DALLAS (AP) — Top Republican leaders in Texas this week weighed in on two parents' battle over their 7-year-old child's gender identity after the case was shared widely on social media and conservative news sites.[…]Younger, who says the child acts like a boy around him, asked to be the sole decision-maker and launched a website in which he pleads for help to "save" his child.

Inaccurate and misleading stories about the 7-year-old have since circulated in blogs, Facebook posts, YouTube videos and petitions, bringing attention to a usually private matter.[...]Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Wednesday evening that the attorney general's office and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services were looking into "the matter" of the child. And on Thursday, Attorney General Ken Paxton said he was asking Family and Protective Services to investigate the mother for possible child abuse, citing "public reports" in a letter that alleges she is "forcing" the child to transition to a girl.

It is the father who is stirring up trouble for his child.

The judge scolded the father, who she noted was unemployed, for seeking publicity on the case and raising money on his website, but she also pointed out how the mother testified that her encouragement of the child being transgender may have been excessive.

"The father finds comfort in public controversy and attention surrounded by his use of unfounded facts and is thus motivated by financial gain," Cooks said, adding that the gain came "at the cost of the protection and privacy of his children."

Much of the public reaction to the case has focused on backing the narrative laid out on the father's website, which features a headline saying he's fighting "chemical castration and sex-change of his son."

Meanwhile many states see it the opposite as Texas, they see it as a form of child  abuse not to let a child transition, they see it as lessening the chance of self-harm by the child. 

Connecticut has these guidelines…

The following is a list of parental behaviors that increase a child’s risk factors (behaviors to avoid) and decrease a child’s risk factors (behaviors that help). The list emerged from longitudinal research conducted by Caitlin Ryan, Ph.D. at the Family Acceptance Project.   

Behaviors to Avoid:   

• hitting, slapping or physically hurting your child because of his or her identity
• verbal harassment or name calling because of the child’s identity
• excluding LGBT youth from family and family activities
• blocking access to LGBT friends, events and resources
• blaming your child when he or she is discriminated against because of his or her identity
• pressuring your child to be more (or less) masculine or feminine
• telling your child that God will punish him or her because he or she is gay
• telling your child that you are ashamed of him or her or that how he or she looks or acts will shame the family
• making your child keep his or her LGBT identity a secret in the family and not letting the child talk about it

Behaviors that Help

• talk with your child about his or her LGBT identity  
• express affection when your child tells you or when you learn that your child is gay or transgender
• support your child’s LGBT identity even though you may feel uncomfortable
• advocate for your child when he or she is mistreated because of his or her LGBT identity
• require that other family members respect your LGBT child
• bring your child to LGBT organizations and events
• connect your child with an LGBT adult role model  
• welcome your child’s LGBT friends and partners into your home  
• support your child’s gender expression  
• believe your child can have a happy future as an LGBT adult.

Hopefully the child down in Texas will be able to find support and transition okay despite the bigotry of the Republicans politicians jumping in to the fray.