As part of a legally-binding order, a Houston judge mandated that a gay father would be prohibited from leaving his children alone with any other man who was not immediately related to the family, despite any evidence or allegations of abuse. Family law practitioners say the move is “unheard of infringement on the rights of parents and a judicial condemnation of the fact that the man, William Flowers, is not only gay but married to his partner, Jim Evans,” according to reports at the Houston Chronicle.
The order came in wake of Flowers’ request for custody arrangements, which were filed in court in Harris County, Texas. While a jury found the children would be better off with their mother, the jury still found the father to be a fit parent with every able right to continue to see his children through regularly scheduled visitations. Throughout the proceedings, neither spouse accused one another of any kind of abuse or potential for abuse.
The jury had no say in the events would take place shortly thereafter. Immediately following the proceeding, Harris County Associate Judge Charley E. Prine, Jr. issued a ruling against the father which would prohibit the gay man from allowing his children to remain with Evans, Flowers’ husband, unattended.
The injunction would carry on to prohibit any kind of ordinary babysitting a parent would normally engage in, no matter what the circumstance would entail. As written, the order also transcends from Evans to all male figures including teachers, pastors, doctors, or any other male figure that would ordinarily come into contact with Flowers’ children.
Family law attorneys who support LGBT families and gay rights say the order is anti-gay, and only issued for the fact that Flowers is homosexual.
Flowers’ ex-wife, on the other hand, has made comment saying the order was not meant to be anti-gay, but rather, the order is very common for split spouses who engage in relationships when children are present.
William says he will appeal the judge’s order.
Everyone, please file a judicial complaint against the judge. PLEASE MAKE IT THE ONE THING YOU DO THIS YEAR TO ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE. You have to mail it in, but this is important for justice and equality. http://www.scjc.state.tx.us/pdf/ComplaintForm-English-071309.pdf
All judges are required to act impartially. The judge’s action has no basis in law and is only a bare desire to harm a minority.