Mom sues child and clinic over transgender treatment, claims Minnesota law violates parental rights
A Minnesota mother who opposes her 17-year-old child’s transition from male to female has sued the teen and officials accused of aiding the process.
The mother’s suit (PDF) claims a loss of the right to due process that affected her parental rights. NBC Out, the Washington Post and the Duluth News Tribune have stories.
The St. Louis County mom claims Minnesota law gives her no cause of action to challenge county officials who paid for or approved for her daughter’s medical services without her consent, or to challenge the medical providers that provided the treatment. She is also seeking her daughter’s school and medical records. The suit refers to the teen as “J.D.K.” and refers to her as a male.
Minnesota law provides that minors who are living apart from their parents and who are managing their personal financial affairs can consent to medical services without receiving consent from any other person.
The suit says a legal aid clinic provided J.D.K. with a letter of emancipation without proper investigation into the mother’s relationship with the child.
The mother appeared with her lawyer, Erick Kaardal, at a news conference in St. Paul last Wednesday. “Not only was I robbed of the opportunity to help my son make good decisions, but I also feel he was robbed of a key advocate in his life, his mother,” the woman said.
The woman is also represented by the Thomas More Society.
