Help Reunite Liam & Alex
Donation protected
Brothers Liam and Alex have not seen each other in more than a year. They are now 12 and almost 16. They are separated by unresolved international custody issues. The barrier to their visits is NOT Covid-19. It’s red tape – and discrimination. They miss each other so much. And so does their mother.
· Jodi is a queer woman, and a fiercely dedicated parent. She and her wife Katie were both on demanding midwifery career paths when issues emerged, and escalated. Committed to serving their community; family means everything to them, both personally and in their work.
· Alex is Transgender. When he came out as Trans, the bullying, discrimination and misgendering by the students and staff at his school were persistent and took a dangerous toll on his mental health. No one was advocating for Alex in Michigan.
· The boys went back and forth between Michigan and Ontario, under a variety of custody arrangements. The boys were both living with their father in Michigan when concerns intensified in 2018, leading to a battle for sole custody. The stress on the family was tremendous.
· When Alex returned to Toronto, for the summer of 2019, he found support, validation, and safety. During this time with his mom, Katie and Liam, Alex expressed how dire the situation was in Michigan. Fearing his return, Alex had increasing thoughts of suicide. He refused to return to Michigan. Liam refused to leave his brother.
· What followed was a long series of court proceedings – most taking place in a conservative jurisdiction in Michigan and some in Toronto, Ontario– culminating in an international trial through The Hague Convention, and final custody decisions that separated the boys.
· On December 13, 2019, The Hague court ordered that Alex remain in Ontario due to the danger to him if he were returned to Michigan. Thus protecting Alex’s right as a transgender boy to live in a country that not only guarantees his safety, but embraces him for who he is.
· Liam wanted to stay with his brother. Unfortunately, because Liam did not face the same threat to his safety, The Hague could not rule on him remaining in Ontario. He was ordered to return to Michigan immediately.
· Now they are separated not only by country, but by barriers that prevent in person visits between the siblings, their mother and step-mom, and all of their Canadian family. Restrictions were placed on Jodi’s parenting time with Liam: Visits can only take place in Michigan (cannot visit any family in Ontario), she must surrender passport during parenting time (to prevent cross-border travel with Liam) and she must post a $50,000 USD bond (to ensure the return of Liam.)
· The issue is that the wording of the bond order is so vague that it cannot be enforced. Jodi has consulted with the Michigan Court and a bail bond company; neither of whom can process the bond because of how the order is written. She needs an attorney to argue against the bond, or to have the order worded in a way that makes the condition enforceable.
Jodi needs the support of the community to help reunite Liam and Alex. She has persevered through every stage to make this right. Due to prohibitive expense, Jodi has represented herself in the courts since 2018, with the exception of the Hague trial. She and Katie both had to leave midwifery due to the significant stress and demands of the process. Though working now, doing low wage essential work, the lost income and the burden of legal debt mean she simply cannot do this next step alone. Her hands are tied by lack of funds. Please help her take on this legal process and reunite her boys, her family.
The funds raised by this campaign will be used to:
> Hire an attorney in Michigan to have the current order modified -> $8,000 CAD
> Pay the bond that will allow Jodi and Alex access to visits with Liam -> $65,000 CAD
(If enough additional money is raised, it will help to repay the debt from The Hague trial legal fees -> $29,000 CAD)
Thank you for your support. There are no adequate words to express how much this means to the family. Every donation matters. Please share widely.
· Jodi is a queer woman, and a fiercely dedicated parent. She and her wife Katie were both on demanding midwifery career paths when issues emerged, and escalated. Committed to serving their community; family means everything to them, both personally and in their work.
· Alex is Transgender. When he came out as Trans, the bullying, discrimination and misgendering by the students and staff at his school were persistent and took a dangerous toll on his mental health. No one was advocating for Alex in Michigan.
· The boys went back and forth between Michigan and Ontario, under a variety of custody arrangements. The boys were both living with their father in Michigan when concerns intensified in 2018, leading to a battle for sole custody. The stress on the family was tremendous.
· When Alex returned to Toronto, for the summer of 2019, he found support, validation, and safety. During this time with his mom, Katie and Liam, Alex expressed how dire the situation was in Michigan. Fearing his return, Alex had increasing thoughts of suicide. He refused to return to Michigan. Liam refused to leave his brother.
· What followed was a long series of court proceedings – most taking place in a conservative jurisdiction in Michigan and some in Toronto, Ontario– culminating in an international trial through The Hague Convention, and final custody decisions that separated the boys.
· On December 13, 2019, The Hague court ordered that Alex remain in Ontario due to the danger to him if he were returned to Michigan. Thus protecting Alex’s right as a transgender boy to live in a country that not only guarantees his safety, but embraces him for who he is.
· Liam wanted to stay with his brother. Unfortunately, because Liam did not face the same threat to his safety, The Hague could not rule on him remaining in Ontario. He was ordered to return to Michigan immediately.
· Now they are separated not only by country, but by barriers that prevent in person visits between the siblings, their mother and step-mom, and all of their Canadian family. Restrictions were placed on Jodi’s parenting time with Liam: Visits can only take place in Michigan (cannot visit any family in Ontario), she must surrender passport during parenting time (to prevent cross-border travel with Liam) and she must post a $50,000 USD bond (to ensure the return of Liam.)
· The issue is that the wording of the bond order is so vague that it cannot be enforced. Jodi has consulted with the Michigan Court and a bail bond company; neither of whom can process the bond because of how the order is written. She needs an attorney to argue against the bond, or to have the order worded in a way that makes the condition enforceable.
Jodi needs the support of the community to help reunite Liam and Alex. She has persevered through every stage to make this right. Due to prohibitive expense, Jodi has represented herself in the courts since 2018, with the exception of the Hague trial. She and Katie both had to leave midwifery due to the significant stress and demands of the process. Though working now, doing low wage essential work, the lost income and the burden of legal debt mean she simply cannot do this next step alone. Her hands are tied by lack of funds. Please help her take on this legal process and reunite her boys, her family.
The funds raised by this campaign will be used to:
> Hire an attorney in Michigan to have the current order modified -> $8,000 CAD
> Pay the bond that will allow Jodi and Alex access to visits with Liam -> $65,000 CAD
(If enough additional money is raised, it will help to repay the debt from The Hague trial legal fees -> $29,000 CAD)
Thank you for your support. There are no adequate words to express how much this means to the family. Every donation matters. Please share widely.
Organiser and beneficiary
Tanya Imrie
Organiser
London, ON
Jodi Nioma
Beneficiary