A Texas judge granted Jeffrey Younger and Dr Anne Georgulas joint managing conservatorship of their son, James Younger, over whose gender identity his parents have argued in court.
The decision, given by Judge Kim Cooks of a Texas Family District Court, means that both parents have equal decision-making power in their child’s medical, dental and psychiatric treatment, The Texan reported.
Dr Georgulas, who believes James identifies as a girl named Luna, will now have to obtain the consent of Younger before allowing James to undergo any hormonal or psychiatric “gender affirmation treatment”.
Last week, a jury ruled against a petition from Younger to obtain sole custody of James and his twin brother Jude, which he filed in an attempt to protect James from ‘gender-changing’ interventions by Dr Georgulas.
Dr Georgulas is reported to believe James identifies as a girl in part because of his affinity for the Disney movie Frozen and its female character leads, along with other feminine preferences in toys.
She has wanted to affirm James’ identity as a girl, while Younger has advocated for a ‘watchful waiting’ approach to see if James changes his mind as he matures, it has been reported.
Dr Georgulas reportedly wanted to enrol James as a patient at the GENECIS in Dallas in their Gender Affirming Care Program for youth.
On its website, the clinic says it offers hormone therapy and puberty suppression therapy along with mental health and social services.