Custody Battle Over Trans Teen in Massachusetts
A couple in Massachusetts, Joseph and Arlene Kutzko, is engaged in a custody battle after their 17-year-old daughter, Sophie, was removed from their care by authorities. They allege that this action was taken without their consent due to their refusal to recognize Sophie, a biological female, as a boy. They shared their story on Fox’s Lighthouse Faith podcast.
The Kutzkos claim that staff at Sophie’s high school in Northborough introduced her to “LGBTQ teachings that contradict our Catholic beliefs” and eventually guided her in transitioning, all without their knowledge. It wasn’t until the school alerted child protective services that the couple discovered what was happening.
“It was like a tornado. We didn’t find out until after Sophie was taken,” Joseph reflected. Since the incident, the family has garnered support from the Child and Parental Rights Campaign, a conservative advocacy group.
The Kutzkos are particularly concerned about the prospect of Sophie receiving high-dose testosterone, which requires either parental consent or court approval, as it does not fall under the category of typical medical treatment. An attorney from the advocacy group, Vernadette Broyless, emphasized, “We are actively fighting in court to prevent them from administering testosterone to this young lady.”
Despite allegations of physical abuse that led to Joseph’s arrest, the couple has yet to be found guilty of any child abuse. These claims have reportedly been disproven, as noted in the podcast.
Currently, the Kutzkos are not permitted to communicate with their daughter, a situation that Broyless described as “entirely the choice of this minor child.” Fortunately for the parents, they have managed to halt the potential testosterone treatment from proceeding until a final court hearing.
“The most important thing is to bring her back to our family,” Joseph stated, adding that their immediate goal is to prevent the state from administering testosterone to Sophie. “We’re begging the state, ‘Please, do not give our daughter testosterone.’”
