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In Defense of Janet Jenkins, Lesbian Mom
GlennSacks.com ^ | 4/16/08 | Glenn Sacks

Posted on 04/23/2008 11:48:01 AM PDT by PercivalWalks

According to Virginia Supreme Court to Weigh in on Lesbian Couple's Custody Battle (CNSNews.com, April 15, 2008):

"The Virginia Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday in a case involving a lesbian couple fighting over who gets full custody of a five-year-old girl. Janet Jenkins, former partner of Lisa Miller, is suing for custody of Miller's biological daughter even though Jenkins is not an adoptive or biological parent.

"Jenkins and Miller (pictured with their baby) entered into a Vermont civil union in 2000 while living in Virginia. Miller got pregnant through artificial insemination from an anonymous donor and gave birth to her daughter in Virginia. The relationship eventually ended."

I've covered this case on numerous occasions. After their breakup, Miller, the biological mother, moved to Virginia with their daughter Isabella, won sole custody, and excluded Jenkins from the girl’s life. Miller’s actions read like a checklist of what heterosexual women sometimes do to the fathers of their children, including: move the child far away; deny the noncustodial parent the opportunity to visit or co-parent the child; make an unsupported, dubious and oh-so-convenient accusation of abuse against the noncustodial parent; and pretend that the noncustodial parent is out-of-line or acting against the child’s best interests by wanting to continue the relationship with the child.

In my co-authored column, Ruling in Vermont Same-Sex Child Custody Case: Lesbian Moms, Divorced Dads in Same Boat (Rutland Herald & various others, 12/10/06), I supported lesbian social mom Janet Jenkins in her struggle to remain a part of her daughter's life. I wrote:

"In a highly-publicized new decision, a Virginia appeals court ruled recently in favor of a lesbian social/non-biological mother in her custody battle against her child’s biological mother. The former couple, Lisa Miller and Janet Jenkins, joined in a same-sex civil union in Vermont in 2000 and had a child together in 2002. After their breakup, Miller, the biological mother, moved to Virginia with their daughter Isabella, won sole custody, and excluded Jenkins from the girl’s life.

"Opponents of gay marriage, gay activists and the media have focused almost exclusively on the new decision’s impact on same-sex marriage. Lost in this, however, is the fact that the case is a textbook example of one of America’s greatest social problems—the refusal of many divorcing mothers to allow their children to continue to have a relationship with their former spouses.

"During Jenkins’ and Miller’s same sex-union Jenkins did everything she could do to be a good parent to their child. She was involved with the pregnancy from the beginning, was present in the delivery room, worked to support the family, and played an important role in Isabella’s life. Following their breakup she was granted visitation rights but Miller refused to comply. After the new ruling, Miller's side vowed to further appeal the case to deny Jenkins access to the girl. Miller says she does not want Jenkins to have any visitation rights, and has not allowed her to see their daughter since 2004.

"Increasingly, other lesbian social mothers are suffering similar injustices. For example, in the A.H. v. M.P. case currently before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the trial court ruled against A.H., a lesbian social mother, who had been the primary breadwinner for her partner M.P. and their young son. After separation M.P. sought to minimize A.H.'s role in the boy’s life, arguing that since A.H. was not the child’s primary caregiver, she should not receive joint custody of the boy...

"The problems heterosexual mothers create for their children and their ex-partners have been largely ignored, partly due to misleading stereotypes of abusive and/or 'deadbeat' fathers. Today fit, loving, lesbian social mothers like Jenkins and A.H. and their children face similar mistreatment. Ladies, welcome to the club."

To learn more, see my blog posts Lesbian Mom Describes How She Got the Dad Treatment, Part I & Part II.

[Note: If you or someone you love is faced with a divorce or needs help with child custody, child support, false accusations, Parental Alienation, or other family law or criminal law matters, ask Glenn for help by clicking here.]

Glenn Sacks, www.GlennSacks.com


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: divorce; gaymarriage

1 posted on 04/23/2008 11:48:02 AM PDT by PercivalWalks
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To: PercivalWalks

If neither partner is a man, how the hell is the judge supposed to know which one to shaft?


2 posted on 04/23/2008 12:14:55 PM PDT by steve-b (Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other "sins" are invented nonsense. --RAH)
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To: steve-b

The one who didn’t give birth.


3 posted on 04/23/2008 12:27:39 PM PDT by tbw2 ("Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell" by Tamara Wilhite - on amazon.com)
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To: tbw2
I see no reason why Jenkins should have any standing at all. No biological connection. No adoption connection. Let her go find another turkey baster babe to hook up with.
4 posted on 04/23/2008 12:32:56 PM PDT by isrul (Help make every day, "Disrespect a muzzie day.")
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To: PercivalWalks

She has NO relationship with the child, either biological or legal [never adopted the child]. Her relationship involves the child’s MOTHER. She has absolutely NO standing to demand, or request custody in Virginia.


5 posted on 04/23/2008 12:54:42 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: steve-b

That would be the child, who is both the victim and pawn of this little circus and large agenda.


6 posted on 04/23/2008 12:56:02 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: steve-b

Legally the one who did not actually bare the child has no standing before the court, and frankly should not.

Deciding which biological or adoptive parent (and I can’t think of a case where an adoptive parent won over a biological parent when it came to custody, maybe one or two out there where biological was abusive or drug addict or something, but I can’t think of one) gets a child is one thing... arguing one that has no biological or adoptive claim is opening an entire can of worms.

This woman has no standing before the court, nor should.. if the court sets a precident like this, than anyone can come along and lay claim to anothers child, for any reason whatsoever.


7 posted on 04/23/2008 12:58:35 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: PercivalWalks

Well (sighing heavily), at least this case highlights the difficult treatment men can receive after divorcing a woman.


8 posted on 04/23/2008 1:06:16 PM PDT by beejaa
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To: beejaa

This article excludes they key reasons for the mother leaving. 1) She is no longer a Lesbian and 2) She is a Christian and that is the reason that Jenkins wants to take the child from her mother.


9 posted on 04/23/2008 2:04:52 PM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: PercivalWalks
"Lesbian Moms, Divorced Dads in Same Boat..."

Um... No you Libtard Fool they're not. Do I really need to explain the difference?

10 posted on 04/23/2008 2:30:53 PM PDT by Desron13 (If you constantly vote between the lesser of two evils then evil is your ultimate destination.)
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