Trans teen wins battle to ‘divorce’ his parents
A trans teenager has won the backing of the High Court to divorce his parents.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took the decision to go to court after his adoptive parents refused to recognise his transitition and kept referring to him by previous name.
Originally born a girl, he was referred to the Tavistock Gender Identity Clinic in 2014 with gender dysphoria and changed his name by deed poll.
Since moving into foster care, his parents had petitioned the court for information on his progress, which the local authority had refused to provide due to privacy.
Making his ruling on Thursday, Mr Justice Keehan said the boy had suffered annoyance and distress and that he wouldn’t overturn the council’s decision.
He said that the boy had come to the conclusion that he didn’t want the couple involved in his life anymore and that they shouldn’t receive information on his treatment.
The couple had asked the court for quarterly updates on his progress, but the boy had refused.
The judge said: “The depths of his wishes are conveyed by his view that if he suffered a serious accident and underwent emergency surgery he would not want to wake and find his parents at his bedside.”
He added that although this was extremely difficult for his parents to accept it was a legitimate decision to reach and the court couldn’t interfere.
“Like the parents, I very much hope the time will come when a reconciliation is effected. In my judgment, however, the surest way of seeking to secure that outcome, is to respect [the boy’s] current wishes and feelings.”
