here's some information for you...
what i can tell you is that the parents have not lost custody of the child
permently, the kid is in foster care.
also, speaking her as a social worker myself, the system has been involved
with this family for awhile, there are alot of issues besides "gender" in
this case, lots' of diagnoses thrown around, including i heard on one list
that the father is also dealing with gender issues.
i am NOT saying that this child should have been removed from her family
(incase anyone heard me say that) just that, like many human drama's there
are lots more than just the surface story.
i don't know where the current case stands.
ari
Subj: Ohio Court Removes Child From Parents Because of Her Gender
Date: 08/30/2000 10:26:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Istarlev
To: Istarlev
Subject: Ohio Court Removes Child From Parents Because of Her
Gender
Date: Tue, Aug 29, 2000, 5:50 PM
GenderPAC
212-645-2686
[log in to unmask]
www.gpac.org
Action@GPAC
Special Online Edition: August 29, 2000
======================================
TAKE ACTION! TAKE ACTION! TAKE ACTION!
======================================
OHIO COURT REMOVES CHILD FROM PARENTS BECAUSE OF
HER GENDER
[Columbus, OH: 26 Aug 00] A six-year-old child, Aurora Lipscomb,
was taken from her parents, Paul and Sherry Lipscomb, by the
Franklin County (Ohio) Children's Services (FCCS) citing concern
for the child's welfare. The parents say the county took their child
because they refuse to force her to conform to narrow gender
stereotypes.
'Zachary' Lipscomb was born physically male, but has identified as
a girl, Aurora, for four years - since she was two years old. Her
parents have raised her since that time as a girl. Last November
she was "diagnosed" with gender-identity disorder (GID) after being
hospitalized at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center.
The County acted less than two weeks after the Lipscombs enrolled
Aurora in the first grade as a girl. Acting on an anonymous call
expressing concern for the child, the FCCS sought and obtained an
emergency order for custody from a Franklin County judge.
Although the County refuses to list the caller's concerns, court
documents reveal that school employees and Children Services
officials question the gender-identity diagnosis as well as the
parents' refusal to force their daughter into out-dated gender
stereotypes.
An FCCS spokesman said that Zachary is doing well and has been
appointed an independent guardian who will act on the child's best
interests.
The Lipscombs say they will file a federal sex-discrimination lawsuit
against the Westerville school district and Children's Service. "We
have no idea what they are doing to her," said her mother, Sherry.
"She's not getting her medication... She's never even had an
outside baby sitter-not even family. She can't be fine. She's
petrified. I know it."
Attorneys for the Lipscombs have filed an Objection to the Court's
order taking Aurora the parents' home. A hearing will be held on
their appeal on 12 September.
"They want us to change Aurora to be male," says Paul Lipscomb.
"We are having conflict with physicians, Childrens services in both
Franklin and Hamilton counties in Ohio. They are talking about
residential care, which removes us as the parents. They are
beginning to say we are unfit parents, because we allow Aurora to
exist."
GenderPAC has been working since 1998 with a broad coalition of
national gay and feminist groups to reform GID so it cannot be
used to "treat" infants and children. Said GPAC's Executive
Director Riki Wilchins, "No child should ever be taken from her
parents and forced to conform to narrow, out-dated gender
stereotypes. American Psychiatric Association President Dr. Alan
Tasman and the G/L/B Subcommittee of the APA have been totally
inert on reforming GID as a mental illness. It's past time gender
was removed as a basis for psychiatric and state mistreatment and
terrorizing of little children like Aurora."
- -------------------------------------------------
Contact those involved and tell them what you think about Aurora
Lipscomb being taken from her parents and forced to conform to
out-dated gender stereotypes.
Call the American Psychiatric Association's Dr. Alan Tasman and
the Committee on GLB issues of the American Psychological
Association and tell them to remove gender as a basis for mental
illness in little children like Aurora Lipscomb.
Dr. Alan Tasman
President, American Psychiatric Association
502-852-1126 (Louisville, KY)
202-682-6000 (Washington, DC Headquarters)
Committee on GLB issues of the American Psychological
Association:
Clinton Anderson, Ph D, Officer
202-336-6037
[log in to unmask]
Janice Taylor
202-682-6092
[log in to unmask]
Aurora is reportedly in the custody of:
John Sorro
Executive Director
Franklin County Children's Services
614-275-2650
Officials at Aurora's School:
Ms. Michele Klein
McVay Elementary School
614-895-5921
Reene Sterling
Executive Director of Student Service
McVay Elemenatry School
614-895-6080
- ----------------------------------------------
An Open letter from Paul, Sherry and Aurora Lipscomb:
My wife Sherry and I notice our son Zachary at the age of two years
old preferring all feminine toys, clothes, shoes, and activities. We
first thought it as nothing to be concerned about. As Zach
progressed in age to kindergarten, there was always the
preoccupation to be a girl. Zach would emphatically state the she
was a girl, and announced that her name was Aurora. After several
years of therapy, which we found out that behavior modification was
being used. We finally came upon a physician who diagnosed our
child with Gender Identity Dysphoria. There have been four inpatient
stays, the third one last fall was when Aurora was diagnosed as
GID. On the fourth inpatient stay the physicians totally flipped the
diagnosis as strictly being psychological. We had to make a child
conform to the male gender Prior to this stay we had informed
them and the school that we were going to have her ears pierced
for her birthday, and support her in her female gender, by doing
home schooling, until she was able to mainstream.
She took an immense amount of harassment, behavior
modification, and bulling. Over all we need help and support They
want us to change Aurora to be male. We are having conflict with
physicians, Childrens services in both Franklin and Hamilton
counties in Ohio. They are talking about residential care, which
removes us as the parents to having custody, because we are to
be firm that our child has to live in a male gender. They are
beginning to say we are unfit parents, because we allow Aurora to
exist. We are definitely afraid that they may take our Aurora away
from us at any given moment without notice. If anyone can give us
support it is: NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We Love our beautiful and creative Daughter. Please let us know
how you feel about our circumstances.
Paul, Sherry, and Aurora Lipscomb
>A defense fund has been set up for the Lipscomb's. The address is as follows:
>
>Aurora's Defense Fund
>c/o Attorney Mark Narens
>50 West Broad Street, Suite 1332
>Columbus, OH 43215
>
>If you would like to help Aurora's family in their legal battle, please send
>funds to this address. Thank you in advance, Hugs.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------_->
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: An Interview with Aurora Lipscomb's Attorney
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 18:34:26 EDT
From: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
OHIO COUPLE'S CHILD TAKEN BECAUSE OF GENDER:
AN INTERVIEW WITH AURORA'S ATTORNEY
INTRODUCTION
=============
In what has become one of the most watched gender cases in the nation,
6 year-old Aurora Lipscomb was taken from her parents in August by
the Franklin County (Ohio) Children's Services (FCCS), who cited
concern for the child's welfare. (See "Ohio Court Takes Child From
Parents Because of Gender," GPAC National Gender News,
28 Aug 00 and "Ohio Court Removes Child From Parents
Because of Her Gender," GPAC Action Alert, 29 Aug 00 at
www.gpac.org.)
The parents, Paul and Sherry Lipscomb, contend that Aurora, who was
born a male, was taken because they are allowing her to live as a girl,
as she prefers. Aurora is still in foster care under a temporary court
order
obtained by FCCS.
The Lipscomb's have retained attorney Randi Barnabee to help represent
them in the case. GPAC's National Gender News caught up with her
in the midst of a crushing schedule of legal work, responding to media
requests, traveling to and from Franklin County, and working with the
embattled parents.
INTERVIEW
==========
NGN: Why did the FCCS take Aurora away from her parents?
RB: They allege mental defects in the parents and a range of mental
problems in Aurora. They allege that Mrs. Lipscomb is manic-depressive,
but allege nothing specific about Mr. Lipscomb. Aurora has been
diagnosed
with a variety of problems: Asperger's Syndrome [a condition that is
characterized by difficulties in social relationships and communication;
non-responsive to social or emotional contacts, and doesn't give or
receive attention or affection - Ed], possibly bi-polar, ADHD [Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder -Ed], Obsessive disorder, and
violent/aggressive disorder.
NGN: You know the parents. Is there any basis to any of these charges?
RB: If the Lipscomb are mentally unbalanced and examples of unfit
parents, half the children in Franklin County would be in foster care.
Sherry Lipscomb has been on disability for years with bi-polar disorder,
but she functions well. Paul Lipscomb is a health care professional, a
Radiographer. They are fine people and good parents.
NGN: How did you come to this case? How did you hear about it?
RB: The Lipscombs contacted Trans-Family of Cleveland, a support group
and referral service, where I am a member and a legal advocate.
NGN: How did this case come about?
RB: Aurora was hospitalized for acting out, anxiety, depression… she
tried
to jump from a moving car. A doctor referred the Lipscombs to FCCS when
they, first, balked at the doctor's insistence that they treat Aurora's
Gender Identity Disorder (GID) with behavior modification in a
residential
facility, and, second, when they could not obtain copies of all their
daughter's medical and treatment records. The family then volunteered to
participate in FCCS's Voluntary Protective Supervision for 6 months. In
keeping with original recommendations, they let Aurora be a girl at home
while she was required to be a boy at school.
On 11 July, there was an administrative case review by FCCS,
after which FCCS expressed no concern for the child's safety or
well-being that would warrant any intervention on their part.
On 26 July, the family terminated their voluntary participation with
FCCS due to their growing concerns about FCCS's intrusive and
overbearing behavior.
Then on 11 August, when the Lipscombs applied for a legal name change
for Aurora, the FCCS received an anonymous call expressing concern for
the child's welfare. Three days later, the Lipscombs met with
Westerville
City Schools to arrange for Aurora to re-enter the school system as a
girl. On the 22nd, FCCS obtained a court order and took the child into
foster care.
NGN: What do the Lipscombs want you to accomplish for them?
RB: First, they want to get the FCCS out of their lives. They also want
to
get Aurora's complete medical records, and they want to get Aurora in
school as a girl with a name change.
NGN: So what's the next step for Aurora?
RB: There's a hearing on 26 September on our motion to vacate the FCCS's
court order granting them temporary custody.
NGN: What happens if the judge rules in FCCS's favor?
RB: Aurora continues in foster care and the Lipscombs have to cooperate
with FCCS. What FCCS will do for a Safety Plan for Aurora is unknown, as
they cited no complaints when they originally dropped the case.
NGN: How are you going to present your case to the judge?
RB: It depends on FCCS. They've taken a shotgun approach, making many
allegations, against both the parents and Aurora. From a legal
perspective, Aurora has been diagnosed with GID, a recognized medical
condition, which the parents have responded to in a medically accepted
fashion. Interestingly, the FCCS has not included GID in their
allegations
even though it was diagnosed by the same doctor who made the Asperger's
Syndrome diagnosis.
NGN: How has FCCS been to work with?
RB: Frustrating. After repeated inquiries, I have been unable to find
out
who is in charge of this case at FCCS. No one will step forward and
accept
responsibility for what they're doing to Aurora.
NGN: How is Aurora being treated in foster care now?
RB: She is being treated as a boy. They took away all her girl's
clothing
and are addressing her as Zachary. They will not use the name Aurora and
they intend to cut her hair. Both parents were livid after a recent
meeting with Aurora, saying that she is not being allowed to see a
rabbi,
nor are the foster parents following a vegetarian diet, both things that
the parents insist upon.
NGN: You've met Aurora. What's she like?
RB: She's a nice kid, a big child. Her father was a professional
football
player. She's already over 4 feet tall, and a hundred pounds. She
understands what is going on. At the visitation, in the presence of her
parents, she turned to the two social workers and said, "You told me I
was
a boy and couldn't use a girl's name. My name is Aurora and I am a
girl."
The social workers ignored her and continued referring to her as 'him.'
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