Gay Dad Ordered To Stay in the Closet

[monobrau]

http://www.nylawyer.com/news/04/01/010904j.html

NASHVILLE -- A state appeals court says a gay father must keep his homosexuality in the closet when his son is around.

But the state Court of Appeals says it was wrong for a lower court to send Joseph Randolph Hogue to jail for simply telling the boy he was gay.

As part of a divorce hearing, Hogue was barred from "exposing the child to his gay lovers and, or his gay lifestyle."

Hogue claimed it was an illegal and overly broad restraining order.

The appeals court says it found nothing wrong with the lower court shielding the child from the gay influences.

But the court did agree with Hogue that the order didn't specifically ban the father from telling his son about his sexual orientation.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. This means what?

No drag queens? No show tunes? No Andy Warhol coffee table books?

Man. How utterly stupid.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Such is the nature of divorce settlements.

Ugly & vicious. On the other hand, if the boy is gay himself, it would be nice that he discover this early so that he doesn't enter into a marriage that cannot end happily. Or, er, as happily ever after as is possible.

[monobrau]

5. Exactly

How does one follow an order not to display a "gay lifestyle"?
Dad must keep the TV tuned to sports, not clean the house and only serve beef-based meals while the kids are around. A few gun magazines scattered around the bathroom and a lack of empathy would demonstrate an an eagerness to comply with the court's order.

[proud patriot]

2. This makes me ill

I say this as a straight married mother .

I just don't get what the heck the problem
is with people who feel the need to shield
children from Homosexuality .

[fertilizeonarbusto]

3. That's just great

Lie to your kid from the very start just so some idiot around him doesn't feel uncomfy.

[Enraged_Ape]

6. This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my whole life

And from an APPEALS court, no less. And these people have, unbelievably, reached some level of responsibility and respectability that would seem to imply some amount of brains.

It's just unbelievable to me that anyone would believe that someone could "turn gay" by being exposed to gayness. It is such a stupid idea that I am just stunned by this.

[DarkPhenyx]

7. This is probably on it's way to the SCotUS.

Probability being that it will be overturned there.

[Rainbowreflect]

8. So does the mother have to keep her heterosexuality in the closet?

I sure hope she cannot introduce the child to her dates, etc.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=305741

[Moderator]

10. locking