A Republican Texas Judge has ordered a lesbian couple to live apart or give up custody of their children. According to Think Progress, Judge John Roach of McKinney, Texas has given Page Price 30 days to move out of the home she shares with Carolyn Compton and Compton’s two children from a previous marriage because he does not approve of Compton and Price’s “lifestyle.”
Roach has placed a “morality clause” in Compton’s divorce papers, which forbids Compton from having anyone she is not related to “by blood or marriage” in her home past 9:00 p.m. if the children are present. Same sex marriage is illegal in Texas, so by law, Compton cannot live with Price if she wishes to retain custody of her children.
Compton said that she and Price have been together for three years. Compton’s ex-husband rarely bothers to see the children and was previously arrested on charges of third-degree felony stalking in 2011, charges that he was able to plea down to criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor.
In a post on Facebook, Price wrote that Roach had inserted the morality clause into the divorce agreement when Compton’s ex-husband Joshua Compton attempted to gain custody of the children in 2011. The judge wrote that he disapproved of the two women’s “lifestyle.”
“Our children are all happy and well adjusted. By his enforcement, being that we cannot marry in this state, I have been ordered to move out of my home,” Price wrote.
Now do people understand WHY we have to have a federal marriage equality law passed in this country?
Just imagine if this were the case of a mixed race couple because less than fifty years ago it WOULD have been. I am old enough to remember the argument that the "mixing of the races" was also "immoral," and a sin in the eyes of God.
By the way I love how these idiots are always going on about morality, while almost exclusively working from a Christian perspective, as if the idea of a nuclear family had ALWAYS been a Christian tradition.
When in fact it had not.
Texas will lose this one.
ReplyDeleteNothing can stop a parent from loving his/her child.
Nothing can stop a parent's love.
Nothing.
The GOP is powerless without supporters like me.
And right now, I can tell you, this is the kind of shit I find outrageous.
Bastard judge. If the stalker father had custody he could probably move a murderer into his home and the judge would not flinch----as long as the murderer was straight. Bastard!
ReplyDeleteDisgusted, but I guess there is no such clause for Daddyo, but this case won't stand up in any court. Hopefully an atty will step up pro bono.
ReplyDeleteRead this crap- the judge is running for re-election
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dfwchild.com/Dallas/showarticle.asp?artid=632
He will win. Welcome to McKinney, TX. Sad but true.
DeleteGreat ruling by Judge Roach
ReplyDeleteNo child should grow up in an Lesbian enviroment
That was the same thing people said about my mother and father except they were of different races. Were you there protesting when he went in uniform to pick up a marriage license ( a few weeks after it was made legal. Good Christian you are. I pray God judges you with more mercy than you do others. Maybe you shouldn't be allowed to raise children with such a small closed mind.
Delete11:02
DeleteThis has got to be a Heath commenting.
What a stupid thing to say.
Delete11:02:
DeleteI realize that you are afraid, I understand that. You grew up in a brainwashed family that puts a bronze age fable above common sense and the reality of how the world works. I feel so sorry for you and your ilk.
In reality, those that you have the most in common with, the christian evangelical right wing, have many more issues regarding the outcome of their offspring than do those who create loving homes for children, wanted children, not just those that "god" told them they must have regardless of how well-equipped they were to handle the rigors of parenthood.
Know that you have my deepest sympathies and I'm so sorry that you have to live your life so afraid of people and circumstances that your anachronistic view of the world did not prepare you for. Every day must be a difficult experience for you but hopefully if you can't grow beyond your superstitions your children and their children might. The odds of this happening are very good as the younger generations are losing their religion and are more accepting of all minorities.
You will be not very cold in your grave when this country becomes one of acceptance and not fear. The time is nigh, this new generation doesn't cotton to your superstition and fear. Rest in peace, as there will be peace in this country soon. Too bad you won't be around to see it, but suffice it to say, all of your best efforts will have been wasted because America has moved beyond your brand of living.
No child should be raised in a home where there is physical or mental abuse, drug and/or alcohol abuse, intolerance or bigotry either.
DeleteA child should be raised in a home where there is love and support. Children don't care whether they have a mom and dad, two dads or two moms as long as they are loved and cherished.
is it true that barack obama is going to prison?
ReplyDeleteOnly in your dreams.
DeleteHope it is true.
DeleteGreat for America
No.
DeleteNot unless the Repub1%can'ts have passed a new law making it illegal to govern while black.
I approve of that law.
DeleteNo, but Sarah and Todd Palin are.
DeleteWhat a petty, stupid, cowardly little anti-American troll we have here today.
Delete11:12
DeleteOnly 10 minutes between your posts? Really, it took you 10 minutes to come up with this? Once again, I feel for you, I really do. I know brainwashed folks like you and either they can change or they can just die stupid and intolerant.
I sincerely wish that people like you could enjoy the world as it is; without religion and without bias. It must be so sad for you to wake up every day, afraid and angry.
Not only is PRESIDENT Obama not going to prison, Hillary will be elected in 2016 and 2020. Sleep well.
Deletewhile religion does have a some flaws in it's working so does science. religion has given the people faith that the world will be better tomorrow while science is more of 'the world is really horrible today, so let's try to make tomorrow better. 2:14 try to have some tolerance. religion isn't all that bad
DeleteI wasn't aware a judge at any level could add a "morality" clause to a divorce proceeding just because he doesn't like their sexual orientation. Judges are supposed to be objective in their determination and judge fairly -- by his own admission, not the case here.
ReplyDeleteI could see him not granting custody if one or both of the women were prostitutes or drug dealers, but just an ordinary lesbian? Come on, people; this is just stupid.
His so-called "morality clause" also means their kids can't have other kids in for sleepovers, right? Hey, they aren't related so lets apply the rules evenly, right?
I hope these two ladies fight this tooth and nail. It's just wrong.
Totally agree - it is just wrong and I don't see how a judge could rule anything like that and make it stick. Just wrong and stupid!
DeleteThis peeves me off. I was born in another country becasue my active duty Marine father could not marry the woman he wanted here int he godl ol USA becasue it was immoral to marry outside his race and it wasn't 'natural' and it would affect traditional marriage. It was wrong then and this is wrong now. I'm Catholic ( you can keep your opinions to yourself about that) and i have always been taught that you love your neighbor as yourself.I am getting sick and tired of people forcing their beliefs on others. You don't like same sex marriage don't marry someone of the same sex . Just as my parents marriage didn't affect anyone elses marriage, same sex marriage won't either and this judge should be taken of the bench for separating kids from people they love. Texas is always talking about separating I say piss or get off the pot do it already and leave the rest of us in peace. Same sex marriage will be the law everyone whether these close minded bigots like it or not. We will drag them kicking and screaming into the future. When you deny right to others you deny them to yourself.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
DeleteI'd say Price moves out. To, say one of the states that allows legalized marriage. Shortly thereafter, Compton and the kids join her and they get married.
ReplyDeleteThe judge can try to order them to return to Texas. But they will already be married. Some ACLU lawyer would *love* to take that case.
Sell the house, relocate, get other jobs. Try Minnesota or Delaware or one of the other 11 states where gay marriage is legal. I'll bet there are LGBT groups there that will help them find housing and work.
Why anyone would voluntarily live in Texas, I don't know.
These women should not have to move in order to live the life they have made for themselves and each other.
DeleteAs for why anyone would voluntarily live in Texas - where should I go? Alaska? Minnesota? Florida? N. or S. Carolina? Arizona? Every state has their share of crazy ass baggers. I will grant you that we could possibly have MORE than our fair share but we are a big state and all in all a great place to live.
It is common in divorce agreements that neither parent can move out of the state as it would make shared custody or visitation with the other parent difficult.
DeleteIt is likely that the only way Compton can leave the state with her children is to petition the judge that the move is necessary for educational or career purposes (and if granted she could well end up responsible for transportation costs to send the kids back to dear old dad for the summer or holidays). How do you think that particular judge would rule on a woman, straight or gay, wanting to move the children away from their father for educational or career reasons?
Also, many states have reciprocity agreements in place with other states another state, especially in the case of custody agreements, meaning that other states would uphold the Texas custody rulings.
Without top-notch legal representation, she is in a position where if she leaves the state, she will lose custody, and if she stays in the state, she can lose custody.
Texas really should be its own country...its just one disaster after another.
ReplyDeleteOn the Judge's web site he is shown with a picture of none other than George W. Bush. I think that would tend to mean that he probably also knows Little Ricky Perry, America's most deeply closeted bisexual Governor (well, sort of closeted; everyone knows).
ReplyDeleteSo, Judge Roach, please expound if you will on your feelings about having a closeted bisexual man for Governor? Doesn't that go against your beliefs? Have you considered organizing an impeachment proceeding against Little Ricky on moral turpitude grounds?
Of course you haven't because that would not be politically wise of you, now would it? Of course that is a quandary for you too because it puts you into the position of being a hypocrite, doesn't it?
What will you do if your daughter someday comes out to you? Your son? Ship them off to a re-education camp? Disown them?
Such a paragon of virtue, aren't you, Judge Roach?
Hypocrite!
I think that unless he has the "morality" clause in all divorce cases, (i.e. a woman is not allowed to have an overnight male guest when her children are present) this will be thrown out at the next higher level. And I, for one, will donate to the legal fund for her fight.
ReplyDeleteI think that is not legal either. He doesn't get to say if anyone can have overnight company.
DeleteTexas just LOVES to send controversial Civil cases to the Supreme Court for historic decisions, don't they?
ReplyDeleteMy god - if there was one - the country is insane. When Judges can specify who is allowed to live where - Justice is insane.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this Judge's "morality clause" for heterosexual divorced couples? Single heterosexual parents? What part of ripping a parent from their children justifies a "moral clause"- if the next best option is to give custody to an absentee totally heterosexual parent with a record of stalking?
ReplyDeleteThis judge should have recused himself from this case because it's abundantly clear he has a bias against gay people parenting.
Oh, right, I forgot, Their love will dilute other people's love.
From a Judge whos party screams, less government! Yet he is dictating how this woman can live her life!
ReplyDeleteI know Page pretty well, we used to work together.
ReplyDeleteThe part they didn't mention in this article is that when the Judge was addressing Carolyn, he actually said to her that if her were legally able to put her in jail for being gay he would.
Douchebag doesn't begin to describe this guy, I really hope this story keeps going national.
Do you see what was done in this article? The father is just dismissed based on some stalking charge - we know nothing about the details there, but this is standard operating procedure against men in divorce so until I hear both sides I'm not going to reject the father's rights based on disposing of him this way.
ReplyDeleteIt's so tragic that the father's side is just dismissed here. This guy married her and had kids with her for 11 years. Then she up and leaves him, takes the kids and sets up house with her lesbian girlfriend. Hmmm, I wonder, when they got married and decided to have a family together, do you think Mr. Compton thought this would be the outcome he'd have to put up with? That as a father with legal custody of his children that maybe he might not have to have his kids and himself be subjected to that?
Don't get me? Re-read the article. Read where the mother claims that she doesn't want to disrupt her children's lives, that they are well adjusted - are you freaking kidding me? She just chucked out their Dad and moved her lesbian lover in - was that not disruptive? Or are the only disruptions allowed the ones that benefit this woman?
Men are treated like they are disposable and women wonder why men check out. What a joke.