Feb 27th, 2003
Transgender Parent Awarded Custody
Michael Kantaras, a parent who is transgender (FTM Parent) has been awarded custody of children and is recognized as legally male.
In February, Florida Circuit Court Judge Gerard O’Brien ruled that Michael Kantaras, a transgender parent, is legally male, making his former marriage legal and valid. As a result, Kantaras’ status as an adoptive parent to his former wife’s biological children is also valid. The court awarded Michael primary custody of the two children.
In his written opinion, Judge O’Brien states, “The issues raised in this case are novel and unusually complex…The medical expert testimony was probably the first time in this nation the medical community has had the opportunity to address the issue of transsexualism in an in-depth fashion.” (Source: http://www.nclrights.org/cases/pdf/kantarasopinion.pdf, p.14)
TransParentcy.org founder Paula, a transgender parent who also faced a custody dispute, reacted to Judge O’Brien’s decision by stating, “I am overjoyed about the ruling…[T]his highly public court case truly kept the interest of the children as the primary determination of parenting. [T]he quality of parenting is above all else, including gender self-identity, the basis for his ruling.”
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Related Links:
The National Center for Lesbian Rights
A national law firm dedicated to advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and their families.
TransParentcy
Supporting the loving and caring relationship between transgender parents and their children.
Transgender Law and Policy Institute
Dedicated to engaging in effective advocacy for transgender people in our society
On-line article: “Transgender Parenting: Myths and Truths” [Link no longer exists.]
TransFamily
Founded by parents of a transgender adult child, this site lists e-mail groups, books, and stories of transgender people coming out to family.
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Additional Resources:
Dress Codes: Of Three Girlhoods; My Mother’s, My Father’s and Mine by Noelle Howey (St. Martin’s Press, 2002).
This memoir about having a transgender father has been featured on Good Morning America’s “Read This!” Book Club, and was named by both Advocate Magazine and Publisher’s Weekly as one of the best books of 2002.
“No Dumb Questions” by Melissa Regan
This documentary follows three young girls’ conversations about gender and acceptance when they learn that Uncle Bill will soon be Aunt Barbara.
OUR TRANS CHILDREN
A pamphlet with basic information published by PFLAG. A good “Transgender 101″ for family members.