Difference between revisions of "Same Sex Relationships and Issues Affecting Transgender and Transsexual People"

<blockquote>Applications by biological mother and mother's lesbian partner for custody and child support. Parties had three year unmarried relationship in which mother remained at home and partner worked outside the home. Both acted as parents to child, and following separation, partner exercised liberal access to child. Child later, by agreement, going to live mostly with partner. Court finding child to have benefited from care of both women, and ordering joint custody with primary residence of child to mother based on blood tie. Negligible access given to father in light of history of disinterest in child. No weight given to mother's sexual orientation.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Mother and father sought sole custody of their children. The parties were Mohawk. The father argued that it was in the children's best interests to reside with him as the mother's new same-sex relationship was "incompatible with traditional Mohawk ways". </blockquote>

<blockquote>The Court acknowledged that some of the many reasons couples choose to marry are intimacy, companionship, and societal recognition. These reasons are independent of the sex or gender of the individuals. Both same-sex and opposite-sex couples are capable of forming loving and lasting relationships. </blockquote>

<blockquote>The sexual preference of a parent is but one of the many factors courts consider in determining the best interests of children. While the father had recently been charged in relation to his substance abuse, the mother had found a home and a job, obtained counselling for the children, and enrolled the children in extracurricular activities. The best interests of the children were better served by residing with the mother. The Court awarded sole custody to the mother.</blockquote>