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
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T
Continued on Page 20
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he New Mexico Senate voted 22-18 to pro
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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
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identity in employment, housing, credit, public
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and approves of homosexual activity. I believe
homosexuality is immoral, and the state of Texas
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allowing homosexuals to adopt children.”
The Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas and
the Family Pride Coalition have mounted an
unprecedented effort to fight these attacks on
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