Montana governor defends decision to remove teen from parents after they refuse to go along with sex change

The governor of Montana has defended the state's decision to remove a 14-year-old girl from her father and step-mother's custody after they opposed a series of moves made to facilitate a sex change which they argue undermined their parental authority. 

Gov. Greg Gianforte called the case "tragic," but nonetheless stated that upon further review by Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras, it was determined that the Montana Department of Health and Human Services and the court "followed state policy and law." 

"To give them their best shot at reaching their full potential, children deserve to grow up in happy, healthy homes with loving families. Sadly, this ideal is not always realized," Gianforte wrote in a thread on X. "Unfortunately, our society finds children whose life, health, and wellbeing are at serious risk from abuse and neglect, and only as a last resort, should they be removed from their home." 

He explained that after hearing about the case of Krista and Todd Kolstad and their daughter, he asked Juras to review it.

"Consulting with the director of DPHHS and personally examining case documents," Gianforte continued, "Lieutenant Governor Juras has concluded that DPHHS and the court have followed state policy and law in their handling of this tragic case." 

She has been asked to "continue monitoring the case as it progresses."

Gianforte went on to boast about laws that "ban permanent, invasive, life-altering medical procedures on children, like puberty blockers, hormonal treatments, and sex-reassignment surgeries," in Montana, laws which were circumvented in the Kolstad's case by having their daughter taken, against their wishes, to Wyoming, where such procedures are legal without parental consent.

The governor was slammed for his response to the case, with many questioning why officials had been so vehement in their desire to take the teen out of state. 

Others pointed out that he had vetoed House Bill 37, which would have required a warrant to remove a child from a home unless they were in imminent danger. 

• Montana CPS removes teen from family after they refuse to go along with sex change

Krista and Todd have been held in contempt of court for speaking out against the state's handling of the situation but have vowed to continue the fight. 

A GiveSendGo was launched to help them. 

"I am setting up this GiveSendGo campaign for my brother and sister-in-law, who have fallen victim to the forced trans ideology, government and medical tyranny that resulted in the medical kidnapping of their 14-year-old child in Montana, facilitated by Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT, along with Montana CPS," it reads. 

"They have been threatened, intimidated, mocked, had their characters attacked, and custody is being stripped from them because they did not consent to transitioning a 14-year-old child in mental crisis. They need our help to meet the mounting expenses and legal fees as they fight to get their daughter back in a system that has become corrupt and weaponized against families. Will you please help us and stand with them? If this can happen in Montana of all places, none of us are safe, and neither are our children. Help us bring Holly home."