West Virginia Supreme Court Awards Custody To Lesbian Couple

[ccharles000]

The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that an 18-month-old foster child should be allowed to remain with the only parents she has ever known.

In a unanimous opinion, the court turned back Fayette County Circuit Judge Paul Blake Jr.’s order that the girl should be taken away from Kathryn Kutil and Cheryl Hess and placed with a heterosexual couple who might adopt her. The court noted that there was no evidence that the girl’s placement with the lesbian couple was in any way harmful to her:

“As a matter of fact, the court was never presented with any actual evaluation of the home or evidence of the quality of the relationship” the girl had with Kutil and Hess, the justices said. “All indications thus far are that (the girl) has formed a close emotional bond and nurturing relationship with her foster parents, which can not be trivialized or ignored.”

The justices said Blake only ruled in favor of removing the child to promote placing her with a heterosexual couple.

“The conclusion itself represents a blurring of legal principles applicable to abuse and neglect and adoption,” the decision said. “Even if our current statutes, rules and regulations could somehow be read to support the adoption preference proposed by (Blake) such a newfound principle would need to be harmonized with established law.”

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/06/05/11906#respond

[Dappleganger]

1. k&r

[babylonsister]

2. WV? This is wonderful!

I'm jazzed that people were so logical! Excellent!

[I Have A Dream]

3. This is good news. nt

[ccharles000]

11. yup

[katandmoon]

4. That is wonderful! Surprising as hell, but woderful.

[ccharles000]

5. kick

[Catshrink]

6. Exellent!

This is a bit of a surprise coming from WV. They ruled in favor of the best interests of the child, not the homophobes. Best wishes to the family.

[foxfeet]

7. Not a complete surprise (good news, anyhow).

WV did not amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage equality, unlike several neighboring or nearby states (Ohio, Michigan, for example). There are ongoing efforts to extend civil rights protections to GLBTQ folks in several cities and at the state level. More work remains to be done, but it ain't Alabama or South Carolina.

[ccharles000]

8. kick

[SeattleGirl]

9. Great news!

And good for the judges for following the law instead of fear and hatred!

[donheld]

10. .

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

[Eyerish]

12. K&R

Wonderful!!

[Wednesdays]

13. K&R

:kick: