Does a surrogate womb have to pay child support? Sperm donors get visitation rights?

Legal Rep Referencing Federal DOMA in Interstate Same-Sex Civil Union Custody Controversy
(AgapePress) - The chief counsel for Florida-based Liberty Counsel says oral arguments in an important child custody case will be presented before the Vermont Supreme Court today. The case involves Lisa Miller, a former lesbian who traveled to Vermont to obtain a civil union with her partner while they were living in Virginia. Miller later gave birth to a child through artificial insemination.

Remember when babies had a mom and a dad? Now they have surrogate wombs with donated sperm and two dads with no biological relation. Most of us recognize that the mom and dad situation was designed by God and it the best way for a kid to come into this world. You liberals that insist the second situation is normal have your head in the sand.

The couple later broke up, and now Miller's former partner, Janet Jenkins, is demanding visitation rights to the child. Vermont law recognizes Jenkins parental rights while Virginia law does not. But Miller, now a Christian, has not allowed Jenkins to see the child and Vermont courts have found her in contempt.

This is part of the argument against gay marriage. Child custody disputes are difficult enough when you have two biological parents. When you throw in the donated eggs and sperm and surrogate wombs and all that nonsense it only complicates things, legally and for the child.

Miller v. Jenkins is unique in that it represents the first time the courts of two states have issued conflicting decisions over the same same-sex union case. It is also the first case in the U.S. courts to involve dueling federal laws.

Vermont says one thing, Virginia says another. This has the ingredients for a Supreme Court case.

It is long overdue for President Bush to push for a constitutional amendment to preserve traditional marriage. Many of us voted for him thinking that he would follow through with that issue after the election. Our side enjoys popular support among our citizens and now is the time to settle this issue in Congress rather than in the courts.