Commentary

Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia

Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia

Nothing that happens regarding the treatment of homosexuals in the state of Texas should surprise me — and yet, I am once again shaking my head and questioning the reality in which these people live.

Page Price and Carolyn Compton are a lesbian couple who have been together for almost three years.

Carolyn Compton was granted a divorce in 2011, but the case was reopened last month to dispute custody of their two children after Carolyn’s ex-husband hired a private investigator to gather information on his ex-wife because she is gay. He wanted to bring the case before a judge “in the interest and welfare of the children.”

Court records show that Carolyn’s ex-husband, Joshua Compton, was charged with third-degree felony stalking in 2011, but he pleaded to a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing.

It was after this that he hired the private investigator to legally stalk his ex-wife.

So, last week a Republican Judge — John Roach, Jr. — added the “morality clause” with no end date into the Compton’s divorce papers and under this clause, someone who has a “dating or intimate relationship” with the person or is not related “by blood or marriage” is not allowed after 9 p.m. when the children are present.

Since the great state of Texas doesn’t allow same-sex marriage, Page Price is being forced to move out of her own home — a home where the children are happy, safe and loved and are, by all accounts, well adjusted.

It’s been alleged that Judge Roach stated that he didn’t like Carolyn’s “lifestyle” and if he could throw her in jail for being gay, he would.

A senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal’s Dallas office said that gay couples are unfairly targeted and that “it’s a problem that continues with homophobia.”

Ya think?

This is an ex-husband who had his manhood questioned because his wife was gay. He stalked her, and when that didn’t work, he hired a private investigator to follow her and document all the proof he needed to reopen his divorce, and use the fact that she was gay against her.

This is a father who, in the words of Page Price, “lives just a few miles away yet has taken his children a total of 12 times in 3 years and not attended ONE school or athletic event.”

And yet, this request for enforcement was filed “in the interest and welfare of the children.”

If he is so worried about their welfare, where is he every 1st, 3rd and 5th weekend.

And what about Judge Roach? This is a Judge who cares nothing for the children in this family.

This is a Judge who is blatantly homophobic and does little to hide his feelings. This is a Judge who has no business being on the bench in family court — or any court — but this is a Judge in Texas who was just re-elected in March.

For those of you who wonder why it is I continue to write about equality issues and continue to ask you all to not give up the fight for what is right and just in this world, and wonder why marriage equality is so very important, it is because of Carolyn Compton, Page Price and their children.

They are the reason.

And because it could be you or me standing in a court room, watching helplessly as a homophobic judge wields his gavel down on us.

Ever vigilant, my friends – we must be ever vigilant.

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