Catholic parents in Massachusetts, Joseph and Arlene Kutzko, say they have not seen or spoken to their 17-year-old daughter Sophie since 2024, after she was allegedly removed from their care by the state's Department of Children and Families. The couple claims staff at Algonquin Regional High School exposed Sophie to gender identity discussions without their knowledge and held "counselling" sessions they were told concerned maths tuition, before alerting state services when the parents would not acknowledge their daughter as male. The case has become a flashpoint over parental rights, religious belief and how schools handle gender-related discussions with minors.

According to the family's lawyer, Vernadette Broyles, school staff allegedly used male and non-binary pronouns and a different name for Sophie in secret sessions, and the parents are now fighting a court battle to stop her being given high-dose testosterone without their consent. Joseph was previously arrested over abuse allegations that Broyles says were found "untrue and unsupported", leaving only an unspecified neglect charge, which the family believes stems from their refusal to accept the transition. The parents say they have been denied all contact with their daughter, including being refused permission even to hug her, and are urgently seeking her return home.