News (USA)

Houston judge orders married gay man to keep kids away from husband

Houston judge orders married gay man to keep kids away from husband

In a stunning case of bigotry from Houston Judge Charley E. Prine, Jr., a married gay man has been forbidden from ever leaving his children alone with his husband, reported the Houston Chronicle.

William Flowers married Jim Evans last year in Connecticut. At the time, William’s ex-wife had full custody of the children with William getting regular visitation with them.

After William married Jim, he sought to change the custody agreement. The jury decided that the custody agreement should remain as-is.

While there were no allegations of abuse or endangerment of the children in any way, the Judge added a ruling applicable only to William. The Judge’s ruling prohibits him from ever leaving his children alone with any man who is not related to the children “by blood or adoption.”

The article cites interviews with many practicing law in Houston stating they had never heard of such an injunction in cases not involving abuse or neglect.

When William’s ex-wife’s lawyer was interviewed about it, she claimed it was common and referred the reporter to Teresa Waldrop, a member the of the Family Law sections of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association – Waldrop admitted to never having seen an injunction such as this and referred the reporter to Austin Family Law Attorney Jennifer Cochran.

Austin family law attorney Jennifer Cochran told the Chronicle the provision is “just not reasonable.”

The fact that William can’t leave the children alone with any man to whom they aren’t related by blood or adoption “strikes at the very heart of the fact that he’s gay … it’s judicial activism, legislating from the bench,” and has nothing to do with protecting the best interests of the children, said Cochran.

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