David and Lori Bohner are fighting to get their daughter back. Why? Because the authorities in Denver think they’re bad parents based on nothing more than the way they dress and how they fight for their child’s healthcare. From their website (I have edited the post so it’s easier to read):
We haven’t seen most of you in awhile. We have been dealing with traumatic family circumstances and we want to tell all of you what’s been happening, then we want to ask for your help.
We took our daughter, London to Children’s Hospital on Nov. 18th and they denied her treatment. We went back on Nov. 19 through Denver Health, who said they couldn’t believe that Children’s missed it. She was in-patient, but they tried to release her on Thanksgiving, I told them I felt she wasn’t ready and so did our little London. She had an episode the night before and, needless to say, they ended up keeping her till Dec. 5th, when she began day treatment. We took her to this daily for 5 days before they re-admitted her as in-patient.
Our little 7 year old has been diagnosed bipolar. Some of you met her at the Gothnic last year. She is suicidal and sad at times. We want our little girl to be happy again, which is why we sought treatment for her.
Since her second hospital admission, this is what we have gone through: They temporarily took custody of her for 5 days, then the magistrate deemed that we had not shown neglect. Their basis for neglect was that I was argumentative for her treatment, so they concluded I was crazy, and Dave was disengaged and quiet, so he must be crazy. This is what Children’s Hospital told DHS.
My basis for being argumentative, but none-the-less cooperative, was 1) I was adamantly requesting a brain scan done on my child, though studies have indicated that ADHD can be ruled out as a diagnosis with such a scan; 2) I was requesting a red dye 40 allergy test be done on her, since studies have shown that red dye can cause aggression in children with mood disorders; 3) I was requesting that red dye be taken out of her diet as a holistic trial before administering drugs; 4) We were not cooperative with their suggestion to place London with our family, though they thought this was a good place for her since at the time we were staying at the Samaritan House, a community resource for homeless families.
We won custody back as soon as we saw the judge, but then when the judge and our attorney were out of town for the holidays, they went and filed for custody again and got it until our trial in February (now March). Colorado law protects homeless families from losing their children and since then we have gotten a nice 3 bedroom home. Still, the hospital cut our visits from twice a day to once a day. Their basis for this was we were “playing monkey” with our daughter. This is because in a family session we had to draw a picture of a boat and our daughter thought it would be funny to draw flying poop off the boat. Keep in mind she is only 7, so Dave drew a toilet for the poop and they think that he was instigating bad behavior. Other professionals at Children’s Hospital disagree with this decision because they know that parents have to come down to their child’s level and there is nothing wrong with this.
Our daughter left Children’s a week ago and was placed with my sister. We have not been able to even talk to her in a week. My sister has reported that I am a former Satanist and Wiccan, and any of you that know me know that I am and have always been a Christian studying to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. My mother brought up a concern about Dave always wearing black and we were told by someone that always wearing black does not help our case. Dave’s mom made false accusations about me wanting to kill my mother. Our family has ruined us and torn apart our family based on religious hatred and hatred of a scene of which they know nothing about. I’m talking to all my gothic friends and acquaintances right now, PLEASE REPOST THIS.
Although we are not Satanic/Wiccan, we recognize the right to be whatever religion you want in this country, we are tolerant people, and we have friends of all religions. Our attorney advised us today that DHS (Department of Human Services, formerly known as social services) is sabotaging all our efforts and will continue to do so since we do not fit into their mold. Last I checked, Sharon and Ozzy didn’t fit that mold either and they still have their kids.
I am asking all of you for your help. Those that are of a different religion who know what I have always represented, I am asking for your testimony in court. Those in the scene and out of the scene, I am asking for your participation in a peaceful protest on the day of our trial.
The trial is on March 11th at 10am at the city and county building. The protest will begin at 8am. We are just at the beginning stages of organizing this protest and would just like a response right now from people that can be committed to be there in the courtroom with us as we fight for our little girl.
They have taken our daughter on allegations and the meds they have her on are not FDA-regulated for children under 12 and are only used for ADHD kids and kids with Tourette’s. SHE IS NOT DIAGNOSED WITH EITHER. I am forced to comply with the drugging of my child and when I do get her back, this is not a drug that I can abruptly take her off because she could die. Instead I have to wean her off of them under a doctor’s care.
Please respond and let me know if you can be there for us on March 11. It is our hope to fill this courtroom with people outraged by the power the state has to take someone’s most beloved gift when there has never been any form of abuse or neglect. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US. We can be reached on the website for now and I will post our phone number later.
This continues to be the land of the free … as long as you don’t have children. If you do, you must conform. Just ask Reverend Magdalen of the Church of the SubGenius or any parent who has lost their kid(s) to people who don’t understand - or fear - differences.
As busy as I am, I have made arrangements in my own schedule to be in court on March 11. If you come along, I suggest wearing something corporate goth - like a black business suit, a trench coat, and stompy boots - because it really fucks with the status quo when goths look semi-normal.
Oh, and REPOST THIS EVERYWHERE.
This is about YOUR freedom, too.
