Share
Commentary

Judge Boots Parents Trying to Change Girl's Name to Fit 'Male Identity'

Share

A set of Ohio parents tried to change their 15-year-old daughter’s name to a male name to match her new identity, but a judge denied their request.

Cincinnati parents Leigh and Kylen Whitaker requested an appointment with a state judge to have their daughter’s name, Heidi, changed to Elliott, WKRC-TV in Cincinnati first reported.

They said they were told by other parents that the hearing was largely a formality and a method whereby the judge could ensure the name change request wasn’t an attempt to commit fraud.

“We thought it was just a formality,” Leigh said, according to WKRC.

Judge Joseph Kirby denied the name change request on June 22 following the hearing. He wrote in his decision that “children change significantly and rapidly” and that Heidi can request a name change when she is an adult.

Trending:
Fani Willis Throws a Tantrum to Jim Jordan as Contempt Deadline Arrives

“Age. Develop. Mature,” the judge wrote.

Heidi declared she was transgender in 2017 and has been undergoing therapy at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s transgender clinic.

“We did do a lot of therapy to make sure that this was something that was real,” Heidi’s mother said.

“The judge met with us for 15 to 20 minutes and then decided that he knew better than the parents and the doctors and our child. We just don’t feel that’s right,” said her father.

Do you think the judge did the right thing?

The parents pointed to the importance of changing Heidi’s name before it appears on her driver’s license and college applications.

Heidi’s name change request was not the only request the judge turned down.

Kirby refused two other requests the same day involving young children whose parents say they have gender dysphoria and want to change their names.

The judge has granted other requests previously.

The Whitaker case now heads to the 12th Circuit Court of Appeals for a hearing.

Related:
NFL Pundit and Former Player Roasted for Suggesting Fans Wear Pink Nail Polish to Support Projected No. 1 Pick

A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , ,
Share
Founded by Tucker Carlson, a 25-year veteran of print and broadcast media, and Neil Patel, former chief policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, The Daily Caller News Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing original investigative reporting from a team of professional reporters that operates for the public benefit. Photo credit: @DailyCaller on Twitter




Conversation