In a recent legal case that has sparked widespread controversy, California father Harrison Tinsley has been granted full custody of his 4-year-old son, Sawyer, following a lengthy and arduous court battle with the boy’s non-binary, lesbian mother.

Tinsley accused Sawyer’s mother of manipulating their son’s gender identity from an early age, referring to him with they/them pronouns and dressing him in girls’ diapers, dresses, and makeup. He shared these allegations on a GiveSendGo page created to raise funds for his legal battle, describing his initial excitement when his former girlfriend announced her pregnancy in 2019, only to have that joy turn to anguish when she ended their relationship and restricted his access to Sawyer.

Despite the challenges posed by California’s progressive court system, Tinsley managed to meet his son for the first time when Sawyer was 15 months old. He recounted various instances of what he described as manipulative behavior by Sawyer’s mother, such as organizing a girly-themed second birthday party for him and insisting he wears a dress. Tinsley alleged that she took Sawyer to Disneyland but only allowed him on rides if he wore princess shoes.

The turning point in the custody battle came after Sawyer’s mother was arrested for felony child endangerment. Tinsley sought full custody, alleging defamation and slander by the mother. Despite presenting extensive evidence, including police bodycam footage and numerous documents, the court initially ruled in favor of the mother. Tinsley appealed the decision, and an investigation by Child Protective Services (CPS) ultimately recommended that Tinsley be granted full custody. The investigation, which involved CPS in San Francisco, led to the recommendation for the mother to undergo regular drug and alcohol testing.

Tinsley expressed gratitude to the investigators, acknowledging that their political views likely differed from his own. However, he praised them for putting politics aside and acting in the child’s best interest. “His mom tried to paint me as some right-wing hillbilly from Mississippi or something even though I had nothing to do with the investigation,” Tinsley said, emphasizing his identity as a “California dude with long hair and skinny jeans.”