Washington State law refers runaway children for “gender-affirming treatment” without parental notice or consent, and delays notification to parents and reunification with them if a minor runaway merely asks for “gender-affirming treatment.”

One family, who I will call the “Guptas” to protect their safety and privacy, literally fled America for India after their 10-year-old’s teacher encouraged the child to run away and live with the teacher so that the teacher could “transition” the little girl into a “boy.”

Centennial Elementary fifth grade teacher, Jennifer Knight (her actual name), led the charge and developed school guidelines for secretly “transitioning” children in her Washington state elementary school.

When 10-year-old Tia* complained that the traditional Indian dress she wore for a school heritage event was itchy and uncomfortable, Ms. Knight jumped into action to impose her warped ideals on the little girl.

Ms. Knight told little Tia that the reason she didn’t like wearing the traditional dress was because Tia “wasn’t a girl.” What followed is a shocking series of events that would have landed a male teacher communicating with a minor child behind bars. But all Ms. Knight had to do was refer to the secret LGBTQ transing program she had developed for her school.

Knight stood Tia before the class and informed the students that they were now REQUIRED to address Tia as “Felix” and only call her boy pronouns. Then the teacher SWORE EVERY CHILD TO SECRECY, specifically forbidding the children from telling ANY of their parents. Knight ordered the children to openly LIE to their parents.

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To keep the secret, Knight told the children to call Tia by her real name and female pronouns outside of school to hide the lie. But the children were ordered to never tell their parents or use Tia’s name or correct pronouns inside school or face punishment.

Knight also sent a similar demand to every teacher and administrator in the school, reminding them of the school policy she had developed. You have to do this,” one teacher recalls Knight and the elementary school principal saying. “They implied that if we didn’t comply, we could lose our jobs or be arrested.”

Knight then encouraged Tia to open a secret email account so that her parents would not be able to monitor communications with the child.

“Make sure this email is deleted too when we are done bc otherwise when your mom looks, you will be outed instantly,” Knight wrote Tia.

In another email, Knight encouraged Tia to run away and come live with her. Knight began secretly communicating with Tia every night and weekend.

“Stop talking to my daughter!”

When Tia’s mom went to the school to confront Knight, the teacher and the principal informed her that they were following school policy. When Mrs. Gupta told them Tia said she was afraid of contradicting Ms. Knight for fear of punishment at school, Knight began to insinuate that Tia was not “safe” in her parents’ home. Knight and the principal then treated Mrs. Gupta as if SHE was the “crazy one” for objecting!

In the middle of the night, the Gupta family packed their belongings and fled to a secret safe house across state lines where they hid until they could make arrangements to return to India as fast as possible.

It was the only way they could protect their daughter. Now back in their homeland and away from Ms. Knight’s creepy clutches, Tia happily identifies as the girl God created her to be. But her family will never, ever return the United States, preferring to live in a developing country rather than risk the destruction of their precious daughter.

The Guptas, as well as the plaintiffs in International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson, have reason to fear. Parents across the country have lost custody of their children for refusing state efforts to “transition” their children. They include Mary and Jeremy Cox of Indiana, Abigail Martinez of Los Angeles, and Ukrainian immigrants CA Ellie* and Sergei* Melnyk* of Redmond, CA.

We are preparing our amicus brief in International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson, but we need your support to continue fighting to save America’s children. DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT today.

In His service,

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

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*Names changed to protect the families.

SOURCES:

Kruse, Brandi. “‘Make Sure This Email Is Deleted’: How Gender Ideology Led to a Secret Teacher-Student Relationship (EXCLUSIVE).” unDivided with Brandi Kruse, July 12, 2023. Brandikruse.locals.com/post/4278057/make-sure-this-email-is-deleted-how-gender-ideology-led-to-a-secret-teacher-student-relationship.

‌Slatz, Anna. “California Family Loses Custody of Daughter after Refusing to Medically ‘Affirm’ Her Transgender Identity.” Reduxx, January 7, 2026. Reduxx.info/california-family-loses-custody-of-daughter-after-refusing-to-medically-affirm-her-transgender-identity/.

‌Torres, Michael. “Family Flees US after Teacher Spurs, Hides 10-Year-Old Daughter’s Gender ‘Transition.’” New York Post, February 1, 2024. NYPost.com/2024/02/01/opinion/family-flees-us-after-teacher-spurs-hides-10-year-old-daughters-gender-transition/.

Washburn, Emily. “Indiana Family Loses Custody of Son over Religious Beliefs; Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case.” Daily Citizen, March 25, 2024. Dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/indiana-family-loses-custody-of-son-religious-beliefs-supreme-court-wont-hear-case/.