his children to his partner or spend time around any of his LGBT
friends.
After a strained divorce proceeding from his wife of nearly 20
years, the Fayette County Superior Court Judge Christopher Edwards
awarded custody to Eric’s ex-wife, Sandy, and set the ban on any
contact with Eric’s “homosexual partners and friends.” Eric’s
ex-wife claimed that he had subjected the children to an array of
“wholly inappropriate conduct” during a trip to Arkansas.
Not only did Eric feel this was unjust, unfounded and untrue, but
it made him afraid to even introduce his children to his straight
friends, for fear they’d be accused of being gay. His wife was able
to bring a date to his daughter’s concert, but he was too worried
to take them to his home.
So Eric did what any father would do–he contested the ban.
And on Monday, June 15th, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously
agreed in Eric’s favor. Justice Robert Benham wrote a 10-page
scathing report in which he denounced the trial court’s decision
without sufficient evidence. He wrote that it “flies in the face of
our public policy that encourages divorced parents to participate
in the raising of their children.”
Sandy has no plans to appeal.
Finally, after two years, Eric was able to spend Father’s Day by
introducing his children to his partner of two years.