Using family values to expand lesbian rights; lobbying group moves out of the shadows by focusing on custody, visitation issues
Article Abstract:
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), headed by attorney Kathryn D. Kendell is seeking to establish the parental rights of lesbians in family court. The most common areas of NCLR litigation involve child visitation and custody rights battles that result from the breakup of lesbian partnerships. The NCLR won a Texas family court victory on Jul 3, 1997 when a lesbian was granted standing to sue her ex-partner, the biological mother of her child, for visitation rights. Kendell believes that family courts may offer lesbians their best chance for winning the right to marry and equal standing under family law.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1997
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Sex-abuse charge in custody fights perplexes courts; new NOW curriculum gives judges guidance, but fathers' groups are wary
Article Abstract:
Judges are very interested in clear standards to guide their custody adjudications in divorce cases where child sexual abuse is alleged. Too often in these cases evidence is biased and evaluations uncertain. Judges turn to the expert as a noninterested third party. Child sexual abuse is often connected with parental substance abuse and young, poor and recently divorced couples have disproportionate instances of this behavior. Experts agree that the problem is still very much in the public eye although hysteria about it has abated.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1996
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Using mediation to speed child custody battles; birth parents can retain contact after adoption, but ethics dilemma looms
Article Abstract:
There are 10 states considering making mediation agreements enforceable in custody cases, with most programs based on the "Etter Model," named for mediation pioneer Jeanne Etter of Teamwork for Children which also does mediations in foster care cases. According to Etter, mediation will, by facilitating adoptions, increase the number of couples willing to adopt foster children. The Texas model helps unfit biological parents in the worst child custody cases participate in deciding what would be best for their children.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1998
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