Wednesday, June 24, 2009

"Former Lesbian" Loses in Custody Fight Again

At some point I would think the Virginia courts would begin sanctioning "former lesbian" Lisa Miller and/or her attorneys from the wingnut Liberty Counsel. Time and time again suits are being filed that cover the same arguments that have already been rejected only to have the cases thrown out over and over. Miller has become a cause - and fundraising tool - for the anti-gay elements in Virginia and elsewhere because like other snake oil peddlers of the far right Miller claims to have "found Jesus" and been "cured" of her homosexuality. Yeah, and if she's really "cured" then I'm the lost heir to the Russian crown too. This case has truly gotten to the point of the ridiculous. Here are highlights from the Daily Press:
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A Virginia woman who has been fighting for years to deny child-visitation rights to her former lesbian partner lost another round in the Virginia Court of Appeals on Tuesday. In a case closely watched by national gay rights and conservative Christian groups, the court unanimously upheld Winchester Circuit Judge John R. Prosser's dismissal of Lisa Miller's latest attempt to block Virginia from registering and enforcing a Vermont court order granting visitation rights to Janet Jenkins.
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Courts in both states have repeatedly ruled against Miller, who became pregnant by artificial insemination after she and Jenkins entered into a civil union in Vermont in 2000. Miller later renounced homosexuality and moved with daughter Isabella to the Winchester area, and the civil union was dissolved. The appeals court has now ruled against Miller three times. The Virginia Supreme Court also has ruled that Vermont has sole jurisdiction over the dispute, and the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear Miller's appeal.
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[T]he issue is simple: "It is well established that people can't just move from one state to another to avoid a court ruling they don't like." The Vermont Supreme Court also ruled in Jenkins' favor in 2006, and last January a Vermont family court judge rejected another attempt by Miller to deny visitation and warned that she risked losing custody of her now 7-year-old daughter if she continues to violate court orders.

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