Oregon parents, Nicole and David Calaway, filed a federal lawsuit on July 15 after their 15‑year‑old daughter was removed from their home by Child Protective Services.
The removal occurred on July 18, 2024, a day after the family terminated their daughter’s therapy. The Calaways claim that the action was prompted by a caseworker’s assessment of a so‑called “mental injury” linked to the parents buttons.
In the lawsuit, the couple alleges that state officials violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, arguing that the removal was based on the parents’ refusal to affirm their daughter’s gender identity.
Documents cited in the filing say that the daughter’s therapist, Jennifer Forster, reported the family to the child‑abuse hotline after encouragement from a state caseworker. The caseworker’s notes suggested that the parents’ reactions had “caused serious harm” to their daughter’s psychological functioning.
The Calaways argue that the state’s actions constitute an infringement on their religious freedom and parental rights, and that the removal was not justified by any credible evidence of abuse.
The lawsuit is pending in federal court, with the parents seeking an injunction to prevent further removal or legal action against them.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between state child‑protection agencies and families navigating questions of gender identity and parental authority.
