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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2003)
parental rights stripped away. The three-week hearing, which included extensive testimony from medical experts, was covered live by Court TV in January and February. “To our knowledge, this is the first transgender marriage case in the U.S. in which extensive med ical evidence was presented, including testimony from three of the foremost experts on transsexual ism in the country,” attorney Shannon M inter said. “As the court has recognized, the medical evidence overwhelmingly favors recognizing that the law should accommodate transgender people so they can be productive, functioning members of society. This includes permitting transgender people to marry and raise children.” M ichael K antaras has been awarded custody of his two children with ex-wife Linda F L O R ID A female-to-male transsexual, and Jennifer, his wife. “The court recognized that the two children in this case have a devoted, loving father and need to maintain a relationship with both their parents,” attorney Karen Doering said. “This court recognized that Michael’s transgender sta tus has nothing to do with his ability to be a good parent. Michael is a loving, responsible father who also happens to be transgender.” After completing sex reassignment, Kantaras met and wed Linda in 1989. She was fully aware of his trans status prior to the marriage and per mitted him to adopt her then 3-month-old son. The couple later had a daughter through alternative insemination. The children are now ages 14 and 11. When the couple divorced in 1999, the focus soon shifted away from the best interests of the children and onto Kantaras’ trans status. Linda argued that he should be considered legally female, their marriage deemed void and his I n a groundbreaking decision, a Florida C ir cuit Court judge ruled Feb. 21 that a trans man, Michael Kantaras, is legally male and was legally married to his former wife, Linda. The court also awarded him primary custody of the two children the couple raised together. “I’m so relieved,” Kantaras said. “Now my kids and I can get on with our lives in peace.” Judge Gerard O ’Briens opinion is one of a handful of decisions addressing marriages involv ing transsexual spouses and one of the first in the United States to hold that such unions are valid. The only states with similarly favorable decisions are New Jersey and California; in contrast, Texas and Kansas courts have held that marriages involving transsexual individuals are void. Internationally, courts in a number of countries have affinned the validity of such unions, includ ing a Feb. 21 decision by the Family Court of Aus tralia upholding a marriage between Kevin, a TE X A S uickly following the advancement of legis lation banning gay, lesbian and bi Texans from serving as foster par ents— including a call for the removal of children in homes with queer foster parents— a measure has been introduced to limit the ability of gay couples to adopt. House Bill 916, authored by Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, Sid Miller has been referred to the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Gunmittee. He has dubbed it the “Defense of Families Act.” “I believe strongly in the preservation of the traditional family, and I do not believe homosex uals should be allowed to continue adopting chil dren in Texas,” Miller said. “By allowing two peo ple of the same sex to adopt children, the state of Texas has been sending a signal that it condones Q eph&b T Continued on Page 20 "Your Independent Insurance Agency" Elliott. Powell, Baden & Baker, Inc. M O R TG A G E d Advocates (V7< X ) SW ior. 1 1 1 Avt\, Si life 200 Ucavert* mi . OR ()7(K ).'* loll hire (877) H2HXKH) Fax (.7)3) *>7-0824 L-Vlail: iolleeii\\ff4nitga(l\»K aies.com www.mtgadvix~dtes.com Hartford still offers earthquake insurance on older homes Colleen Weed C e ll he New Mexico Senate voted 22-18 to pro hibit discrimination based on sexual orien tation and gender identity Feb. 26. It will be the third state to pass a law to protect against dis crimination based on gender identity and the 14th based on sexual orientation. A joint committee will reconcile the House and Senate bills before a final version goes to Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson’s desk. He has pledged to sign the measure. The Coalition for Equality is fix;using on moving the Senate bill through a House com mittee because the margin of victory was wider in the House, executive director Jo Kenny said. Reconciling the two versions in committee might take few weeks because so many measures are going through the system. The bill broadens the state’s Human Rights Act to cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and union membership. The legislation first was introduced in 1991 and was rejected 35-31 by the House in 2001. Insurance Careful and energetic handling of all your home financing needs 503 » 297»9900 N E W M E X IC O Auto, Home, Life, Health & Business “I’m, AVAILABLE, „ when )Qii are! O ffic e and approves of homosexual activity. 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