Minnesota mother sues her transgender daughter for receiving transition treatment

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

Transgender people often encounter rejection from their families when they come out and live life as their authentic selves. But a Minnesota mother has taken rejection to a new level. She has sued her transgender daughter, her doctors, public health officials and school officials.

Anmarie Calgaro filed a federal lawsuit against her 17-year-old child on Wednesday, according to Gaystarnews.com.

According to the Associated Press, “Calgaro says in the lawsuit that her child has been treated at a Minneapolis health clinic and given medication for transgender issues without her consent. Calgaro says the St. Louis County school district, where the teen is a student, has taken away her parental rights and refused to release records to her.

Gaystarnews.com reports, “She argues proceeding with her daughter’s gender reassignment violated her rights as a mother.

“She says the child was considered ‘emancipated’ – being treated as an adult – without parental consent.”

Calgaro gave a press conference on Wednesday morning to announce her lawsuit.

Jezebel.com reports, “Calgaro is represented by attorney Erick Kaardal and Thomas More Society, the latter of whom is notorious for defending David Daleiden, creator of anti-choice propaganda videos, and often prosecutes in anti-abortion cases. NBC News reports that Calgaro misgendered her daughter during the press conference, and emotionally described being left out of her child’s transition process:

“’The news that county agencies and health service providers, the school and other county and state offices were completely bypassing me came as a total shock,’ Calgaro said while beginning to cry. ‘Why wasn’t I even notified?’

“The lawsuit specifically challenges a Minnesota law that allows minors to access medical care without their parents knowledge if they are emancipated, the definition of which is a minor living separately from their parents ‘who is managing personal financial affairs, regardless of the source or extent of the minor’s income, may give effective consent to personal medical, dental, mental and other health services, and the consent of no other person is required.’”

Jezebel.com continued, “The involvement of the Thomas More Society has led some to suggest that this particular case is an attempt to challenge the state’s parental notification law regarding abortion. Currently, a non-emancipated minor may seek an abortion up to 48 hours after their parents have been notified that the procedure will take place. Were Calgaro to win her case, it might set a precedent for parental rights over their children’s right to an abortion.

“Calgaro is stating that she is taking action to protect the rights of parents in her state, saying to reporters Wednesday, ‘I’m also taking this action for the benefit of all parents and families, who may be facing the same violation of their rights—so that they and others in the future may be spared from the same tragic events.’”

Copyright 2016 The Gayly – November 18, 2016 @ 1:25 p.m.