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Jeff Younger–Anne Georgulas custody battle

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Beginning in 2018, Texas parents Jeff Younger and Anne Georgulas fought over custody of their twin children, born in 2012. The case attracted national attention, as one of their children is a transgender girl diagnosed with gender dysphoria at age five. Georgulas affirms her identity and allowed her to socially transition, while Younger denies that she is transgender.

In 2019, the Dallas County District Court gave both parents shared custody, but later in 2021 granted Georgulas sole custody, with the exception that both parents would need to consent for their daughter to receive gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers.

In 2022, Younger petitioned the Supreme Court of Texas to block Georgulas from moving with the children to California (which had recently passed a "trans sanctuary state" bill), but the court dismissed his petition. In 2024, a California judge awarded Georgulas full custody and medical authority over their daughter.

Younger's social media campaign against Georgulas attracted substantial attention from conservative, parents' rights, and LGBTQ groups. In 2021, Younger unsuccessfully ran for the Texas House of Representatives.[1][2]

Background

Jeffery Damon Younger, a resident of Flower Mound, Texas, and Anne Georgulas, a pediatrician from Coppell, Texas,[3] had their marriage annulled in 2016.[4] They had fraternal twins, born in 2012, whom they shared joint custody over.[4]

At age three, one of their children expressed a desire to be a girl.[5] She was clinically diagnosed with gender dysphoria at age five, and began presenting as female and using a feminine name.[5] Georgulas allowed her to socially transition, paint her nails and wear dresses.[5] Younger claimed that she presented as a boy when spending time with him, and accused Georgulas of manipulating her gender identity, or pressuring her into transitioning.[6]

By 2018, their daughter presented as a girl at school and in public.[6] Georgulas alleged that Younger had engaged in emotional abuse in response to their daughter's gender identity.[7] In August, Georgulas filed a restraining order against him, which would prevent him from entering their children's school, or outing her as transgender to other parents.[6] She also filed a lawsuit to alter their custody agreement to require Younger to name and gender their daughter correctly, and prevent her from spending time with those who did not.[6] Georgulas attempted to enroll her in gender identity counseling at GENECIS—a pediatric gender clinic, defunct as of 2021—but the clinic could not accept her as a client following Younger's objections.[6]

In response, Younger petitioned for full custody of the twins, accusing Georgulas of "tampering with the sexual identity of a vulnerable boy", and claiming that she imminently planned to "mutilate" or "chemically castrate" her.[6] Vox called this "a misinformed, scary-sounding reference" to puberty blockers or feminizing hormone therapy, which their daughter (then seven) would not need for several more years.[8] Georgulas said her only plan was to take her daughter to GENECIS.[6]

Prior to puberty, gender-affirming care for transgender children consists solely of counseling and guidance with social transition, with no medical intervention. When a child reaches puberty, puberty blockers may be prescribed, to delay or prevent a masculinizing or feminizing puberty. Gender-affirming surgeries are performed extremely rarely on trans youth under 18.[9][10]

Younger launched an internet campaign in support of his case, which gained the support of state Republican politicians such as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw,[6] and netted approximately $139,000 in crowdfunding and merchandising.[5] Per Georgulas' attorneys, the publicity resulted in threats, harassment and vandalism against her by strangers.[6]

Initial ruling

In October 2019, a jury decided 11–1 to give Georgulas sole custody over the children.[6] Dallas County District Judge Kim Cooks defied the jury's decision, and granted Younger and Georgulas joint custody.[3] Cooks ordered that any medical decisions for the twins be made by both parents in agreement.[3][11] She criticized both parents in her ruling: Georgulas for admitting that she may have "over-affirmed" her child's identity, and Younger for his efforts to raise donations and publicity from the case at the expense of her privacy.[3]

Further developments

2021 court ruling

Immediately after Cooks' ruling, Georgulas filed a motion asking the district court to conform to the jury's original decision.[7] In January 2020, Judge Mary Brown reaffirmed Cook's ruling.[7]

However, in August 2021, Brown awarded Georgulas full custody, after Younger "failed to timely make the payments of child support, medical support and interest as ordered".[12] Georgulas' legal team claimed that Younger, in addition to paying child support late, had refused to carry out court orders including required counseling and educational decisions. Younger claimed he had made payments on time but they had been disbursed late.[13] According to the ruling, both parents would still need to consent for their daughter to receive puberty blockers or hormone therapy.[14][15]

2021 Jeff Younger state legislature bid

Younger ran as a Republican in the 2022 election for the Texas House of Representatives 63rd District, after then-incumbent Tan Parker vacated the seat to successfully run for the Texas Senate.[16] Younger sought to criminalize gender reassignment for children as part of his platform.[2][17] Facing three other candidates (including a former county district judge) Younger advanced to the Republican primary runoff, finishing second behind and ultimately losing in the runoff to former Town Councilman Ben Bumgarner.[1]

2022 Texas Supreme Court petition

In September 2022, Georgulas moved with the twins in California. Younger, representing himself,[18] petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to return the children to Texas. California had recently passed Senate Bill 107, a "trans refuge" law, which Younger feared would allow his daughter to medically transition.[19]

Justices Jimmy Blacklock and Evan Young denied his petition, writing that the court "cannot intervene based on tenuous speculation about what other courts might do in the future".[20] The justices noted that Georgulas had already agreed to a binding court order that she would not seek gender-affirming care for their daughter without Younger's consent, and indicated that she did not intend to use Cal. SB 107 to do so.[18] Blacklock commented, "I find it troubling that [Younger] has refused to see either of his children in over a year despite abundant opportunities to do so." In response to the ruling, Younger proclaimed Texas to be "an empire of child abuse, led by Texas judges".[18]

2024 California court decision

On November 11, 2024, a California court denied Younger custody rights and gave Georgulas authority to proceed with gender-affirming care for her 12-year-old. Younger was awarded supervised visitation, but on November 19 said on Twitter that he would not do so because the supervision "reinforces in a child's mind that the father is dangerous, that something is wrong with him." He said he will send them "letters and gifts" instead.[21][22]

Reactions

Greg Abbott child abuse investigation order

Following the initial jury ruling, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and the Texas Attorney General’s Office were "looking into" the dispute.[23] In a letter to the state's child welfare agency, Texas First Assistant Attorney General Jeff Mateer said their daughter was "in immediate and irrevocable danger" from the prospect of transitioning at such a young age.[23]

In February 2022, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an order for the Texas DFPS to treat all gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender youth as child abuse. The New York Times noted Younger's case had "paved the way for" this.[15] On March 29, 2024, the Texas Court of Appeals upheld injunctions to block unlawful investigations against Texas parents of transgender youth.[24]

LGBTQ advocates

Gillian Branstetter of the National Center for Transgender Equality criticized Cook's decision, saying it was a "serious disservice" to "give any incentive for a parent to reject their child for who they are".[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Hooks, Christopher (2022-05-25). "Anti-Trans Politics Has Won in the Texas GOP, But Its Main Figurehead Lost". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  2. ^ a b Rose, Andy; Alvarado, Caroll (2022-03-04). "Texas state House candidate fighting child gender-affirming care is shouted down at college campus event". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  3. ^ a b c d Lee, David (2019-10-24). "Parents in Fight Over Child's Gender Identity Awarded Joint Custody". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  4. ^ a b Ennis, Dawn (2019-10-26). "Texas Is Afraid Of A 7-Year-Old Transgender Girl". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  5. ^ a b c d Burns, Katelyn (2019-11-11). "What the battle over a 7-year-old trans girl could mean for families nationwide". Vox. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Armus, Teo (2019-10-24). "A Texas man says his 7-year-old isn't transgender. Now his custody fight has reached the governor's office". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  7. ^ a b c Marfin, Catherine (2020-02-01). "Dallas judge affirms joint custody order in case involving 7-year-old's gender identity". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  8. ^ a b Burns, Katelyn (2019-11-11). "What the battle over a 7-year-old trans girl could mean for families nationwide". Vox. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  9. ^ Rafferty J (October 2018). "Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents". Pediatrics. 142 (4): e20182162. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-2162. PMID 30224363. S2CID 52288840. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  10. ^ Sprayregen, Molly (2024-04-15). "Marjorie Taylor Greene calls gender-affirming mom "evil" while promoting anti-trans bill". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  11. ^ Croft, Jay; Killough, Ashley; Vera, Amir (2019-10-26). "A custody battle between parents who disagree on the gender of their 7-year-old draws attention of Texas politicians". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  12. ^ Baska, Maggie (2021-08-11). "Father who denies trans daughter's identity stripped of custody after refusing to pay child support". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  13. ^ "How Medical Care for Transgender Youth Became 'Child Abuse' in Texas". New York Times. 11 March 2022.
  14. ^ Lee, David (2021-12-08). "Father who lost custody of trans child runs for Texas House to outlaw child gender reassignments". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  15. ^ a b Goodman, J. David (2022-03-11). "How Medical Care for Transgender Youth Became 'Child Abuse' in Texas". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  16. ^ Lee, David (2021-12-08). "Father who lost custody of trans child runs for Texas House to outlaw child gender reassignments". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  17. ^ Harper, Karen Brooks (2022-03-14). "His public custody battle helped ignite a movement against transgender health care for kids. Will it carry him to the Texas House?". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  18. ^ a b c Allen, Cynthia M. (2023-01-07). "Misinformation from the right is distorting Texas court ruling in child gender case". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  19. ^ "Texas Supreme Court Denies Jeff Younger's Petition to Keep Children in Texas in Light of California 'Trans Refuge' Law". The Texan. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  20. ^ Reiter, Elisa; Pollack, Daniel (2023-01-05). "Gender Identity Freedom with California as Safe Haven v. Texas-Style Prosecution". National Law Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  21. ^ "Thread by @JeffYoungerShow on Thread Reader App". threadreaderapp.com. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  22. ^ Deese, Kaelan (2024-11-21). "Texas father who lost court fight over transitioning son vows appeal - Washington Examiner". Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  23. ^ a b Platoff, Emma; Fernández, Stacy (2019-10-25). "Top Texas Republicans order investigation into mother who supports child's gender transition". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  24. ^ "Families Win in Texas Appeals Court in PFLAG v. Abbott Ruling". PFLAG. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
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