Texas Supreme Court Refuses Gay Adoption Case

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/01/012705texAdopt.htm

The Texas Supreme Court has refused to overturn the adoption of a Galveston woman's 6-year-old daughter by her former lesbian partner.

Julie Anne Hobbs had become pregnant through artificial insemination. In 2001, the man who donated the semen voluntarily terminated his parental rights and Hobbs partner, Janet Kathleen Van Stavern legally adopted the girl when she was a 3-years old.

But, Hobbs and Van Stavern's eight-year relationship ended in March of last year and Hobbs went to court to have the adoption overturned arguing that Texas law does not permit co-parenting by same-sex couples. (story)



this kind of stuff just kills me--first they want co-parenting and then when they don't, they use these homophobic laws against their ex's

[murielm99]

1. Look at it this way:

Some heterosexual parents use every law in the book to fight over the kids when they break up, too.

Gay parents are no worse or no better when they break up. Either way, it is bad for the kids.

[David__77]

6. Well, being gay, I think it is worse...

...utilizing anti-gay statute is a crime against other lesbians and against gay men. There should have been other measures taken. Lines must be drawn somewhere, and this is appropriate place.

[Rainscents]

2. I think most States judge don't want to get invole

in the case like this one.

[renaissanceguy]

10. Neither does the Supreme Court.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14744107

[KissMeKate]

3. custody battles are bitter.

it makes enemies of parents.

I feel sorry for this whole family.

[Misunderestimator]

4. "They" ....... ???????

wow.... just wow, on your use of "they"

[davidinalameda]

7. what "they"

I'm the biggest queen on this board

[Misunderestimator]

8. Then that's even odder...

you said "this kind of stuff just kills me--first they want co-parenting and then when they don't, they use these homophobic laws against their ex's" which sounds a lot like anti-gay generalization. As if using existing laws in a custody battle has anything to do with gay people wanting to co-parent. Just struck me as a general slam against gay people with your use of "they" instead of "she." I assume I misinterpreted you.

[davidinalameda]

11. you assume correctly

and my use of "they" is correct--this isn't an isolated incident

for example, there is/was a case in Virginia where a parent tried to prevent or cut ties that her ex had to the kid

[Misunderestimator]

12. Sure it isn't isolated, anymore than straight abuse of law in such cases..

but you are implying that this is a gay problem.

[Jersey Ginny]

5. I dreaded reading this

I've got two boys whom I have legally adopted with my partner. I know that Oklahoma dissolved a legal adoption that took place in NJ recently. In fact, I know the couple b/c they lived in my town. That was terrifying to me. This was a clear opportunity for the court to attack my family in this climate of hate and it appears that the court did not do this and thought of the children first. Good for the court. It is really ashame when gay couples use laws in this way. We (gay couples) try to solve these problems ourselves and avoid the courts. You might get short term satisfaction on a homophobic ruling, but the long term loss can be sweeping and long term.

[Spinzonner]

9. I very much see your point

but I wonder if, from a bigger perspective, it isn't better that the public sees homosexual couples and homosexuals as no different than hetersexual ones in all their manifestations, that they are not really different or special except in one rather narrow way when one considers the full spectrum of human behavior.