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Westerville Part 3
PARENTS, COUNTY REACH AGREEMENT IN GENDER CASE
A 6-year-old boy whose parents wanted to send him to school as a girl will remain in foster care, according to an agreement approved yesterday in Franklin County Juvenile Court. Parents Paul and Sherry Lipscomb will have separate, supervised visits with the child. The Lipscombs are estranged. Kara Morgan, attorney for Mr. Lipscomb, said the child "just needs time, and this gives him time.'' The boy will continue to receive counseling. Judge Kay Lias accepted the plan and praised the mediation. "At the outset of this case, I would not have believed mediation was possible,'' Lias said. "I think the result is a good one.'' Franklin County Children Services filed complaints in August saying the child was neglected and dependent (or in need of government intervention). The agency and prosecutors agreed this week to dismiss the neglect complaint, which faults the parents. The Lipscombs agreed not to contest the dependency complaint, which says that, through no fault of the family, issues exist that warrant government intervention. The parents, county officials and lawyers were led through mediation by two facilitators this week. "We believe this plan covers most of the issues, and all parties believe it will be in the best interest of the child,'' said Cynthia Sours Morehart, assistant Franklin County prosecutor. The parties will meet in January to determine whether the Lipscombs and child are ready for unsupervised visits. The parents yesterday asked that no pictures be taken of them, and they declined to discuss the case. They sought media attention earlier this year when the county agency sought custody of the child. The Lipscombs said their civil rights were being abused. They said their child was being taken because he was to enter McVay Elementary in Westerville as a girl. He attended the school as a boy last year. The Lipscombs relied on a diagnosis by a Cincinnati doctor, who said the child suffered from a gender-identity disorder. The story became national news. Rebecca Steele, a public defender appointed to act in the best interest of the child, argued in September that gender disorder was not the real issue. Steele focused on threats of violence by the child, who has been hospitalized four times, has seen 13 doctors and has had psychological and behavioral disorders diagnosed. |
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