A Montana family claims they lost custody of their 14-year-old son after opposing his desire to change gender — and while the governor’s office defended the move, it insisted to The Post that the state does not release minors to provide gender transition services.
The state’s Child and Family Services (CFS) reportedly took custody of the teenager from her father Todd Kolstad and stepmother Krista this month, prompting the parents to speak out about how the move has “destroyed” their family and “trampled” on their rights. them.
The allegations, first reported over the weekend, prompted Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office to look into the case and defend CFS workers.
The parents told Reduxx that their problems with the state agency began when officials received a call in August 2023 that Jennifer, whose name has been changed for publication at their request, was expressing suicidal thoughts at school.
A CFS caseworker came to speak with the teenager and check on the home where Jennifer claims she drank toilet bowl cleaner and took painkillers in an attempt to kill herself, the outlet reported.
The father and stepmother lost custody of their 14-year-old son earlier this month. Facebook
The teenager reportedly showed no related symptoms, and tests at the hospital showed he had not ingested any toxins.
But her stay at the hospital lasted several days, during which the staff there stated that Jennifer identified as male and wanted to be called Leo. The parents said they quickly, but unsuccessfully, protested.
“We were very clear to the emergency room staff as well [CFS] that this is against our values, morals and religious beliefs,” Krista Kolstad told Reduxx, accusing the hospital of consistently undermining her and her husband’s authority.
The child has reportedly expressed an interest in transitioning to a boy. Facebook
Jennifer was eventually transferred to a specialized residential care facility in Wyoming over her parents’ concerns. Kolstad told Reduxx he and Todd were concerned about Jennifer being cared for in the state, where minors can receive gender-affirming care without parental consent.
“They showed up at our house to serve us papers to take Jennifer out of our custody,” Kolstad claimed. “They told me the reason was that we were ‘unable or unwilling to provide medical treatment.’ That is not true.”
Jennifer then returned to a Montana youth facility in September, where she remains. Earlier this month, the court placed the teenager in CFS custody, Reduxx reported.
“We were told that letting Jennifer transition and live as a man was in the ‘therapeutic best interest’ and because we weren’t ready to follow that recommendation, the court gave CFS custody of Jennifer for six months,” Kolstad told the outlet.
“Our family has been destroyed by this. We have little to no contact with Jennifer, and our rights as her parents have been trampled upon.”
The Kolstads said the child will be placed with her birth mother in Canada, which worries them because they don’t believe she is fit to care for Jennifer, with whom she doesn’t have much of a relationship, according to Reduxx.
The governor’s office said it was reviewing the case. Facebook
However, Montana Governor Gianforte said in a series of social media posts that state policy and law had been followed after a review of the case.
“Upon hearing the latest allegations related to child welfare cases, I asked Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras – an experienced attorney, constitutional conservative, mother and grandmother – to review them,” he wrote.
“Consulting with the director of DPHHS and personally examining the case documents, Lieutenant Governor Juras has concluded that DPHHS and the courts have complied with state policy and law in handling this tragic case.”
Gianforte said Juras will continue to monitor the case.
In a statement to The Post, Gianforte’s office said the state does not remove minors from homes to provide gender transition services or use public funds to pay for those services while minors are in state care.
“As outlined in its statement of purpose, Child Protective Services protects children who have been or are at significant risk of being abused, neglected or neglected,” a spokesman said.
“Additionally, the Governor has asked his Department of Public Health and Human Services to codify official policy and/or develop regulations to clarify and ensure that the definition of abuse or neglect does not include a parent’s right to refuse to provide gender reassignment services to their minor child.”
The Post has contacted the Kolstads.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
