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Local News
Christensen Threatens Legislation to
Prevent Gay Parenting Rights
According to the Deseret Morning News, the custody case between Keri Jones and Cheryl Barlow may lead to legislation specifically aimed at preventing gay and lesbian people from claiming a parental relationship with their partner’s children.
Last December, Third District Judge Timothy Hanson ruled that although there was no legal relationship between Jones and the child through adoption or marriage, continued visitation with Jones was in the best interest of the child, even if that is against the wishes of the biological parent. His ruling applied the legal doctrine of “in loco parentis,” which is Latin for “instead of parent,” to establish that Jones had a parent-like relationship, even if there was no formal legal relationship.
Barlow appealed the judge’s decision and the case has been heard by the Utah Supreme Court, which has up to a year to make a ruling.
But Representative LaVar Christensen believes the case could cause a “crisis” for parental rights.
Christensen, R-Sandy, declared that he’s working on legislation that would require parents to have a biological, adoptive or marital relationship before courts can order visitation rights.
“The mother [Barlow] of the child renounced that lifestyle and chose to move on with her daughter,” Christensen said. “This court used (common law) doctrine and treated it as a marriage and a breakup of a marriage.”
Christensen, who has been an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, threatened legislation the previous week against Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson’s plans to extend medical and insurance benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian employees. Christensen also sponsored (along with Defense of Marriage Alliance co-chair Sen. Chris Buttars) the bill which put Amendment 3 on the ballots last November.—JK
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