There is an extraordinary case out of British Columbia where a father referenced as CD was arrested after he continued to refer to his biological 14-year-old daughter (known as AB) as “she” and his “daughter” after he transitioned to a male gender. The Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada ordered that the child receive testosterone injections without obtaining parental consent. CD opposed the transition as the parent but he was overruled after physicians at BC Children’s Hospital who decided the girl should receive testosterone injections. The father continued to defy gag orders, including a bar on his trying to persuade with his own child to wait before making such a change.
We have previously discussed how such pronoun disputes (called “misgendering) lead to criminal investigation in other countries like Great Britain.
The Canadian courts withheld the father’s name but he has since gone public in interview and has a GoFundMe site under his real name.
Previously, in a 2019 decision, Justice Gregory Bowden rejected the parent’s view as largely immaterial:
In view of the established law regarding the right of a mature minor to consent to medical treatment and the assessments of a number of physicians that A.B.has capacity to consent as well as the evidence of his health care providers that the proposed treatment is in A.B.’s best interests, there is no serious question to be tried.
At the second stage of the RJR test, the inquiry is whether the litigant who seeks the interlocutory injunction would, unless the injunction is granted, suffer irreparable harm. A.B.’s father has not demonstrated that a refusal to grant the injunction would adversely affect or irreparably harm him.
After that decision, there was a gag order put into place that barred the father from even trying to convince his son to change his mind:
“[1] AB, a 14 year old transgender boy, applies for a protection order to restrain his father, CD, from publishing, speaking or giving interviews about this case or about AB’s personal and medical information.
“a) CD shall be restrained from: i. attempting to persuade AB to abandon treatment for gender dysphoria; ii. addressing AB by his birth name; and iii. referring to AB as a girl or with female pronouns whether to AB directly or to third parties;
“b) CD shall not directly, or indirectly through an agent or third party, publish or share information or documentation relating to AB’s sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical health, medical status or therapies.”
The evening of the Bowden’s decision, CD spoke to the Federalist and said “because she is a girl. Her DNA will not change through all these experiments that they do.” He added:
“I had a perfectly healthy child a year ago, and that perfectly healthy child has been altered and destroyed for absolutely no good reason. She can never go back to being a girl in the healthy body that she should have had. She’s going to forever have a lower voice. She’ll forever have to shave because of facial hair. She won’t be able to have children… Sometimes I just want to scream so that other parents and people will… jump in, understand what’s going on. There’s a child—and not only mine, but in my case, my child out there having her life ruined.”
That led to a conviction of the father for “family violence” in April 2019. Furthermore, Judge Francesca Marzari even issued an order authorizing Clark’s arrest “without warrant” by any police officer who might catch him referring to his daughter “as a girl or with female pronouns.”
Later YouTube interviews with the father were removed. In addressing one of those interviews, Justice Michael Tammen of the British Columbia Supreme Court even ordered that Laura-Lynn Thompson to pull her interview and, when she did not, he sent police to her house.
The decisions reject any substantive weight given parental rights. I have long opposed an absolutist position against parental rights in areas like abortion with minors. The use of criminal penalties against this father only magnify those concerns.
I personally disagree with the father in the use of the pronoun if his son has made this choice. I would yield to the child’s preference on how the child is referenced (as opposed to decisions on medical treatments or procedures for young children). However, the question is whether the state should play such a coercive and intrusive role in a family. Ordering a parent not to speak to his child about the issue or arresting him for referring to the child’s biological gender raises very serious parental and free speech rights in my view. I realize that many experts believe that opposing such gender transition is abusive and harmful. I do not discount that view. However, that is a position best left to persuasive rather than coercive means. We can debate this question and many can oppose the use of such pronouns as abusive. Yet, arresting a parent for continuing to oppose such a transition or referring to the wrong pronoun is chilling. There is an utter disregard of the countervailing interests and rights of parents in these decisions.
Monstrous. We didn’t even see this in the times of Stalin or Mao. When will we wake up.
How did a 14 year old GIRL get access to the Sex Change ( SIC ) ? Who authorized this? Her Mother? It is SINFUL and a GOD FORSAKEN BLASPHEMY!!! This Girl will now live her life at a much higher chance of SUICIDE. Along with other life debilitating Health Issues. Forsaking GOD is no trifle matter🥵!!!
“…if his son has made this choice…”
Being born to an English mother, I was, during my childhood, introduced to the books of Enid Blyton, a popular English author and editor of 100s of books for children of various ages. Although I was somewhat embarrassed by my adoration of her books when I entered adolescence, and on into my younger adulthood, I can honestly say that Enid Blyton taught me how to read (well).
My favorite books of Blyton’s were the (Famous) ‘Five’ books, a series of 21 children’s novels that became her most popular series. It was the characters – not the plots – who made these stories so enjoyable. My favorite character was ‘George’, a tomboy girl who wants so badly to be boy that she cuts her hair short and refuses to answer to her real name, ‘Georgina’. George is a larger than life, heroic character, totally honest and courageous, and fiercely independent. She’s ready to compete with any boy and in any way, physically or verbally. The ‘Five’ novels feature children, including George, who would clearly have reached the age of 14 and beyond, although there is no sex or romance in these books for children.
Were George a real person living in an environment such as that of ‘AB’ and her father, there should be little doubt that her desire to be a boy would have meant a ‘gender change’ such as AB’s at 14 or even younger. Would that have been good? I very much doubt it and, as evidence, I would present the book series’ author, Enid Blyton, who modeled ‘George’ after herself. Enid Blyton matured into a strong intelligent woman who married twice and gave birth to two children.
I’m not sure if this could help the father in his legal fight but sending it to you in the hope you might be able to forward it to him. Just read this article with him on my mind:
The Detransitioners: They Were Transgender, Until They Weren’t
by Katie Herzog
It was published by a magazine call “The Stranger” on or about June 28, 2017
Best Regards
It seems this author means well however, being transgender is in no way a choice. It just is.
Some experts say it is not a choice. Other experts say it’s mental illness. No one knows for sure. Just is?
I realize that many experts believe that opposing such gender transition is abusive and harmful.
You can’t “realize” something that is false.
What? You disagree with the father about how to address “his son”?
Yes indeed, res ipsa loquitur. Wow.
“Transgenderism” needs to be outlawed under 18. No transitioning. No modifications (outside of the “birth window,” and then tied to very specified medical issues and approved by parent(s) for those well-defined medical reasons).
Men are being erased from their families…and by the way, China’s CCP enjoys the stupidity of these Lefty lurches. It’s like you doing all the hard work for them: killing off your society, creating chaos, refusing actual truth and reality for irrational feels-based society. Good luck fighting the future wars/conflicts with weak and confused souls that crack under any pressure. I can feel sorry for such “confusion” but disallowing the guidance of the “rational male,” the father, will come back to haunt the transitioning that girl to a “boy.”
When the he/zer kills themselves in 5-10 years, will the LEFT give a shit? Oh, it was legal though to do. We gotta follow these laws, bro.
Devalue human life. Every. Single. Day.
These damn judges are poison. C-16 is poison. Jordan Peterson, no matter what you think of him, wasn’t wrong on that one.
At this point, all North America will become a VASSAL state of China. Those transgendered will KNOW hell on EARTH if the Chinese take over North America. The CCP barely tolerate their own citizens.
FAFO.
Doctors and parents who allow a child to have gender surgery or pumped full of hormones should be arrested for child abuse. The child is 14 years old-a time or rebellion and needling parents. Gender change is for adults to decide. My heart breaks for this father. As a female I feel like I’m being erased as well. Trans women are not women. They deserve full rights and protection from hate and harassment. They need to accord women the same. I wonder about trans girls in sports. A trans girl will probably outdo a girl and possible deny the girl a scholarship. I’m sick of it all. Many people are. I fear there will be a backlash. I just hope this trans girl doesn’t wake up 10 years from now and think she’s made a huge mistake.
So you’re for child suicide. Educate yourself.
Sarah,read more,both sides. The doctors who say it’s real. Those who say it’s not. Unless you are a medical doctor you really can’t say,and some of them can’t say. It certainly is not for children. Get unwoke and live in reality
By the way Sarah,your nasty comment speaks volumes. Hope you get over your anger when someone disagrees with you.
a child who threatens suicide is trying emotional blackmail, and that has to be stood up to as any blackmail needs standingup to,
Typical left attacking an opposing view. Say good bye free speech, say hello to bullies controling our thoughts and feelings