MINNEAPOLIS (LifeSiteNews) — Public condemnations of the mother of the “transgender” Annunciation Catholic Church shooter in Minneapolis, Minnesota, may have been premature, as new reporting indicates it was the father who supported his son’s gender confusion over her objections.
A gender-confused 23-year-old man named Robert “Robin” Westman opened fire into the church early on the morning of August 27, killing two children and injuring 17 other people on the scene before taking his own life. Online videos discovered soon afterward indicate a wide range of extreme views, including a desire for the death of President Donald Trump, hatred of Christianity, Jews, and religion generally, a fascination with school shooters and desire to terrorize children, and even regret for his own “transitioning,” specifically that “I wish I never brain-washed myself,” and that “I wish I was a girl[;] I just know I cannot achieve that body with the technology we have today. I also can’t afford that.”
His mother was soon identified as Mary Grace Westman, a retired Annunciation employee. In 2020 she filed an application to let her son change his name from “Robert” to “Robin” because he “identifies as a female and wants her [sic] name to reflect that identification.” This led many to blame her for supporting his gender confusion, thereby exacerbating his mental issues instead of treating them.
However, Westman’s journal also blames his mother for initially discouraging him from transitioning.
“Your words, mother, made me stay in my discomfort unable to ask for help to avoid admitting defeat,” he wrote. “You were right mama, but the way you handled it led me to wanting to kill so so many people.”
“When I was first out to my mother, she was VERY antagonistic. She really made me hate myself and think I will never be good enough,” Westman continued. “I remember one day, she said something like, ‘In the future you will look back and feel ridiculous about who you feel like you are inside. You will regret this.’ Well guess what mom?! I regret being born.”
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On August 31, independent journalist Andy Ngo reported speaking to an acquaintance of the Westman family, who relayed that of the parents, who divorced over their parenting differences, it was the father, James Allen Westman, who was supportive of his son “transitioning.”
“Mary Grace was very conservative and Jim was not,” the unidentified individual said. She had been involved in pro-life activism and had given birth to many children. “Because of this dynamic, the kids always went behind Mary Grace’s back to Jim for approval of doing things she didn’t approve.”
“But the source believes Ms Westman was under immense pressure — from professionals, doctors and family — all warning her that unless she signed, her son would kill himself.” Ngo added. “This threat is a familiar line from mainstream trans groups: transition or suicide.”
Mary Westman, who has retained an attorney but not yet spoken publicly about the situation, moved to Florida shortly after her son’s 18th birthday. “She was heartbroken over all of this,” the source said. “She moved away from all of us. Mary Grace did not share with us that she signed the paper for Bobby. She probably would not have been able to face us. But we would all still have loved and accepted her decision, knowing that her back was against the wall.”
In many localities across America, parents must contend with heavy social, institutional, and sometimes even legal pressure in favor of transitioning gender-confused children. For example, a New Jersey father is currently suing a school district he says “socially transitioned” his daughter without his knowledge or permission.
