DeepSummary
Todd and Krista Kolstad recount their experience of having their 14-year-old daughter removed from their home by Child Protective Services (CPS) in Montana. Their daughter, Jennifer, had been exploring a transgender identity online and at her summer job, going by the name Leo. After the Kolstads tried to prevent Jennifer from socially transitioning, CPS took her away, claiming the parents were medically neglecting her for not affirming her stated gender identity.
Despite the Kolstads' efforts to get counseling for Jennifer and their willingness to take her for medical evaluation, CPS first sent her to an inpatient psychiatric facility in Wyoming that allowed her to transition. When the Kolstads objected to this out-of-state transfer, CPS removed Jennifer from their custody entirely, placing her with her estranged birth mother in Canada who supported her transition.
The Kolstads describe their futile attempts to reason with CPS, attorneys, judges and institutions that all affirmed Jennifer's transgender identity despite her young age and history of deception. Feeling they had no other recourse, the Kolstads released a video about their ordeal which led to them being threatened with contempt of court charges for speaking publicly about the case.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Kolstad family's harrowing experience illustrates how transgender ideology can be imposed by government authorities over the objections of parents.
- Child Protective Services acted precipitously to remove the Kolstads' daughter from their home based on her self-proclaimed transgender identity despite her young age and history of deception.
- Institutions like hospitals, group homes, and the courts all affirmed the daughter's transgender identity against the Kolstads' wishes and enabled her social and likely medical transition.
- The Kolstads faced punishment, including potential jail time, for publicly discussing their case in an attempt to raise awareness of their situation.
- Jordan Peterson sees the Kolstads' story as an extreme example of government overreach enabled by ideological capture of public institutions.
- The Kolstads remain defiant in speaking out despite threats, feeling they must try to prevent similar injustices against other families.
- Their daughter was ultimately placed with her estranged birth mother who affirms her transgender identity, likely facilitating her medical transition against her parents' wishes.
- The Kolstads question whether they still live in a society that respects fundamental rights like parental custody and free speech.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Every time things would be where she wanted to come back. If things were good, CPS would step in and block it.“ by Todd Kolstad
- “They took your daughter and they taught her how to weaponize the system. And now you've got this super smart kid who has learned that she can get what she wants just by saying a few keywords.“ by Attorney
- “When did the US shift to a country where CPS can say, you don't even get a voice?“ by Todd Kolstad
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Episode Information
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
3/4/24
Dr. Jordan Peterson speaks in-person with Todd and Krista Kolstad. They discuss their ongoing court battle with the state of Montana surrounding the removal of their daughter from their home, and then to Canada, for lack of gender affirmation.
Krista Cummins-Kolstad was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. After mortuary school, she moved to Flathead County, Montana where she spent the next 13 years as a licensed mortician and funeral director. She married Todd Kolstad in 2017 and recently moved to Glasgow Montana to give her daughter a fresh start. She has been working with her husband Todd at his company, Montana Technical Solutions since 2021.
A Glasgow, Montana native, Todd Kolstad spent his high school years in the Phoenix, Arizona area. He served in the Air Force from 1987 to 1991 mostly stationed in Kadena Air Base with the 12th tactical fighter squadron. After his military service he worked for Siemens nuclear power for 10yrs doing nuclear instrumentation. He then worked for KLA-Tencor performing laser alignment robotics globally. He then returned to the glasgow Montana area and started the company he has today: Montana Technical Solutions. Todd has five children with his ex wife. He moved to the flathead valley area where he met and married Krista Cumm.
- Links -
2024 tour details can be found here https://jordanbpeterson.com/events
Peterson Academy https://petersonacademy.com/
For Todd & Krista Kolstad:
Given Send Go campaign to help with legal fees https://www.givesendgo.com/GBMG9