A Reykjavik father claims he was stripped of custody of his 10-year-old autistic son after refusing to allow him to undergo gender transition and identify as a girl. His emotional video explaining the ordeal has gone viral, sparking fierce debate online.
Alexander Rocha revealed, “Last December, the court took my son away from me. Why? Because I wouldn’t allow my 10-year-old son to start gender transition and identify as a girl.” Rocha criticized medical treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy. “My son is already on the autism spectrum. I won’t let him go through life-altering procedures that change his body and mind,” he said.
Gender healthcare in Iceland is governed by the Gender Autonomy Act No. 80/2019, which establishes specialist teams and appeals processes but does not explicitly permit or ban puberty blockers. Instead, these treatments fall under general medical law and child welfare regulations. This ambiguous system allows doctors to petition authorities if they believe parents are blocking “necessary” medical care.
The situation represents a legal conflict between parental rights and medical decisions, made more complex when autism is involved.
The full details of the court’s ruling and the medical advice remain confidential. Rocha has launched an appeal that could either restore his custody rights or uphold the original decision. It is unclear whether he can see his son during the appeal process or how long the appeal might take.
This high-profile custody battle may influence Iceland’s future approach to disputes over gender treatment for minors. Families and courts across the country are watching closely as the case unfolds.
Originally published by UKNIP.
