Indiana parents are issuing a warning to the nation after their child was removed from their home for what authorities deemed as improper pronoun usage, stating that this situation could occur in any state. They have taken their case to the Supreme Court, seeking accountability from Indiana for removing their transgender child from their custody.
In the case of M.C. and J.C. v. Indiana Department of Child Services, Mary and Jeremy Cox are appealing to the Supreme Court after being investigated by Indiana officials. The investigation was initiated because the Coxes refused to use pronouns and a name for their son that were inconsistent with his biological sex. The state courts allowed Indiana to keep the child from living with his parents due to their disagreement with the child’s gender identity, citing the parents’ religious beliefs as the primary reason.
Becket, a legal group, is representing the Coxes, arguing that the state’s actions violated their parental rights and religious freedom. Despite the investigation finding no evidence of abuse or neglect by the Coxes, the state argued that the disagreement over gender identity was harmful to their child. Lori Windham, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, stated that no parent should have to endure what the Coxes have experienced, emphasizing that the state’s actions are both morally wrong and illegal.
The Coxes’ son revealed in 2019 that he identified as a girl, but due to their Catholic beliefs, they did not accept this and continued to refer to him using his birth name and male pronouns. They also sought therapeutic care for their son, believing that he was struggling with underlying mental health issues, including an eating disorder.
In 2021, Indiana officials began investigating the Coxes after receiving reports that they were not acknowledging their child’s preferred gender identity. The teen was subsequently removed from their custody and placed in a “gender-affirming” home, despite the Coxes’ objections and the worsening of their son’s eating disorder after being placed in this new environment. The Indiana Department of Child Services declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
Mary and Jeremy Cox expressed their devastation over the situation, stating that they love their son and wanted to care for him but were prevented from doing so by the state of Indiana. They hope that the Supreme Court will take their case and protect other parents from experiencing a similar ordeal.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Indiana officials argued that the child should be in a home where she is accepted for who she is, which led to restrictions on the Coxes’ visitation rights and their ability to discuss their religious beliefs with their child. The courts upheld the removal of the child from their custody, despite acknowledging that the Coxes were fit parents. Becket and the Coxes are now appealing to the Supreme Court to address this violation of their parental rights and religious freedom, stating that if this can happen in Indiana, it can happen anywhere in the country.