A Montana family claims they lost parental rights because they opposed their 14-year-old’s interest in changing their child’s gender, and although the governor’s office defended the move, the state has yet to provide gender reassignment services. He stressed to the Post that no adults would be excluded.
The state’s Children and Family Services (CFS) reportedly took custody of the teen from her father, Todd Kolstad, and stepmother, Krista, this month, highlighting how the act “destroyed” the family. Parents are now speaking out about whether their rights have been “trampled upon”.
The allegations were first reported over the weekend, prompting Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office to investigate the incident and defend the CFS employee.
parents told Reduxx The dispute with state authorities began in August 2023, when authorities received a call that Jennifer, whose name has been changed for publication at the request of authorities, had expressed suicidal thoughts at school.
A CFS caseworker came to speak with the boy and inspect his home, and Jennifer claimed that she had tried to kill herself by drinking toilet cleaner and taking painkillers, the newspaper reported.
The girl reportedly had no associated symptoms and tests at the hospital revealed she had not ingested the toxin.
However, her hospital stay lasted several days, during which staff realized that Jennifer identified as male and wanted to be called Leo. She said her parents immediately objected but were unsuccessful.
“We were very clear with our staff, not just our emergency room staff.” [CFS] This goes against our values, morals and religious beliefs,” Krista Kolstad told Reduxx, accusing the hospital of constantly undermining her and her husband’s authority.
Jennifer was eventually moved to a residential care facility in Wyoming due to her parents’ concerns. Kolstad told Reduxx that she and Todd are concerned about Jennifer being cared for in a state where minors can receive gender-affirming care without parental consent. .
“They showed up at our house and gave us the paperwork to remove Jennifer from our care,” Kolstad claimed. “We were told that the reason was that they were ‘unable to provide or refuse medical care.’ That is not true.”
Jennifer then returned to a youth facility in Montana in September, where she remains. Earlier this month, a court placed the boy in CFS custody, Reduxx reported.
“We were told that it was in her ‘therapeutic best interests’ to have Jennifer’s sex changed and live as a boy. And because we had no intention of following that recommendation, the court ruled that CFS has been granted custody of Jennifer for six months,” Kolstad told the outlet.
“Our family has been destroyed by this. We have little contact with Jennifer and our rights as her parents are being trampled upon.”
According to Reduxx, the Kolstads said the child will be placed with his biological mother in Canada, but they do not believe she is suitable to care for Jennifer, who has little to do with her. He is worried because of this.
However, Governor Gianforte of Montana said: series of social media posts After reviewing the case, state policies and laws are complied with.
“After hearing recent allegations related to child welfare cases, I asked Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, an experienced attorney, constitutional conservative, mother and grandmother, to reconsider,” he wrote.
“Lieutenant Governor Juras, in consultation with the Director of DPHHS and after personally reviewing the case documents, has come to the conclusion that DPHHS and the court followed national policy and law in their handling of this tragic case. ”
Gianforte said Juras will continue to monitor the case.
Gianforte’s office said in a statement to the Post that while the state is in custody of the minor, it cannot remove the minor from the home to provide sex reassignment services or defund the cost of those services from the public. He said he would not pay with funds.
“As outlined in our statement of purpose, Child Protective Services protects children who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, neglect or abandonment,” the spokesperson said.
“Furthermore, the Governor has asked the Department of Public Health and Human Services to codify a formal policy to clarify and ensure that the definition of abuse and neglect does not include a parent’s right to refuse to provide gender reassignment services. or establish regulations.”His or her minor children. ”
The newspaper contacted the Kolstads.
