Jeffrey Younger, a father who fought to protect his son, James, from undergoing a gender transition, has lost all parental rights following years of contentious legal battles in Texas and California.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to its implications for parental rights, the family court system, and the contentious debate surrounding gender-affirming care for minors.
The conflict began when Younger’s ex-wife, Anne Georgulas, a pediatrician, started transitioning their son, James, to a girl at just two and a half years old.
Younger claimed this was initiated after James showed interest in a toy from the movie Frozen, which Georgulas interpreted as evidence that James identified as a girl.
Younger has consistently argued that James was being influenced by his mother, citing video evidence in which the then-three-year-old child said, “Mommy told me I’m a girl.”
Despite these concerns, Texas courts granted Georgulas significant custody and decision-making authority. In 2019, a Dallas jury awarded Younger equal custody.
However, by 2021, restrictions on Georgulas transitioning James without both parents’ consent were lifted, coinciding with California becoming a “sanctuary state” for gender-affirming procedures.
Younger has accused the Texas family court system, particularly Judge Mary Brown, of ignoring evidence and expert testimony favoring his position.
He nicknamed the judge “Bloody Mary Brown” for her rulings that enabled Georgulas to pursue the transition process. After Texas courts denied his appeals, Younger was forced into California’s legal system, which he described as overwhelmingly biased.
“The Supreme Court of Texas denied my mandamus, effectively terminating my parental rights. My children are now subject to being chemically castrated in California. Texas is an empire of child abuse, led by Texas judges,” Younger stated.
The Supreme Court of Texas denied my Mandamus, effectively terminating my parental rights. My children are now subject to being chemically castrated in California. Texas is an empire of child abuse, led by Texas judges.
— Jeff Younger (@JeffYoungerShow) December 31, 2022
In February 2024, Georgulas filed a motion in Los Angeles County Superior Court to remove protective orders that prevented her from seeking gender-affirming care for James.
The motion cited the opinion of psychologist Brigid Mariko Conn, who claimed that James expressed interest in puberty blockers, estrogen, and “bottom surgery.”
However, James was only assessed two months after the motion was filed, and no treating physician has been formally assigned to his case.
Judge Michelle Kazadi concealed court proceedings from the public and restricted access to case documents. Subsequently, the Los Angeles Superior Court claimed to have lost case files in a ransomware attack, adding to the controversy.
Eventually, Judge Mark Juhas permanently revoked Younger’s parental rights and authorized Georgulas to pursue the transition process for James, now 12 years old.
Younger expressed heartbreak over the outcome, releasing a public statement:
“I lost all parental rights to my sons. Goodbye, boys. Perhaps we will meet when you are adults. Let my story be a cautionary one for young men. Fathers have no rights to their children.”
He also criticized supervised visitation, arguing that it undermines the parent-child relationship and provides courts with biased material for further rulings.
The case underscores the growing tension between parental rights, judicial authority, and the ethics of medical interventions for minors. As debates over gender-affirming care continue, this high-profile case serves as a flashpoint for broader societal and legal discussions.