# No men alone with that child, says Texas judge

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [August 25, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072 "2011-08-25T18:57:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/21 "2011-08-26T04:30:17Z")

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You know, you have to assume the judge is not just being a bigot to be a bigot. _He really believes_ Gay men are some sort of threat. Further, you have to think a judge in Texas is more educated than other Texans.

If these thoughts are correct, the situation is more sad than infuriating.

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**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/22 "2011-08-26T07:37:14Z")

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> [@njtt](#):
>
> Only, I think, because children spend much, much more time alone with men they are related to than men they are unrelated too. It does _not_ mean that a relative is actually more likely to feel a pedophilic\* attraction to a child than a non-relative.

Agreed on the second, but I think you’re missing some factors on the first: a child is much more likely to make a huge fuss about someone he doesn’t know that about someone he does, and other relatives/caretakers are a lot more likely to believe “That one tried to touch me yucky!” about someone they don’t know that about “dear old Dad”, “Uncle Ron” or “Ms Smith the math teacher”. So, attacking a child under your care is not just easier but safer (not safer for the kid, of course; safer for the bastich).

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**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/23 "2011-08-26T09:49:09Z")

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> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#):
>
> You know, you have to assume the judge is not just being a bigot to be a bigot. _He really believes_ Gay men are some sort of threat. Further, you have to think a judge in Texas is more educated than other Texans.
> 
> If these thoughts are correct, the situation is more sad than infuriating.

No, they’re definitely more infuriating. In fact, they’re enraging. Without any evidence of molestation, trauma or anything of the sort, without any understanding of the dynamics of the home, without any indication that this child is at any sort of risk, this judge has predetermined that any homosexual man, including the father’s husband, is a threat.

And make no mistake, this isn’t an indictment of all men as molestors (though it plays to those tropes) this is all about disturbing the home and destroying the father’s marriage, because how long does a relationship last if one of the partners can’t legally be in his own home without his partner, if the kid is there?

This is about punishing this father for the temerity to want an adult relationship that matches his orientation while still parenting his child.

This is actually beyond enraging. I don’t have a word for how angering this level of blatant, unfounded, home, relationship and life-destroying bigotry makes me. (And should make everyone.)

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/24 "2011-08-26T10:48:23Z")

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What the fuck does “being a bigot just to be a bigot” mean? Do you think there’s Klansmen out there who don’t really think black people are inferior, but joined the Klan anyway so they’d have something to do on a Saurday night? Are there Nazis who just joined up because goose-stepping is good cardio? Nation of Islam members who only signed on because hey, how often do you get a chance to where a bow tie?

For fuck’s sake, **Paul** , all bigots are bigots because they really believe the bullshit they spew. _That’s what makes them bigots!_

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/25 "2011-08-26T11:55:28Z")

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No, I am convinced soem are playing a role they write for themselves. Politicians are very typical of this. Do you think Rick Perry really thinks getting rid of Social Security will help the country?

I suspect not, I suspect he said that just to get elected. He knows, or he hopes, political realities would not let him actually ax the program.

(Heck George Bush the Lesser actually called for a program to land on Mars. You think he believed it?)

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**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/26 "2011-08-26T12:55:26Z")

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Why do I think that there is more to this case then meets the eye?

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**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/27 "2011-08-26T13:10:42Z")

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> [@fifty-six](#):
>
> I must have read the OP wrong. I read it as the child is allowed to be alone with pastors, doctors and teachers.

No, the article says (highlight mine):

> [@](#):
>
> As written, the injunction _ **also** _ prohibits male doctors, teachers and pastors from being alone with the children.

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**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/28 "2011-08-26T13:15:51Z")

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> [@Miller](#):
>
> Are there Nazis who just joined up because goose-stepping is good cardio?

Nothing to add to this thread but I thought this was hilarious.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/29 "2011-08-26T13:17:28Z")

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> [@Miller](#):
>
> What the fuck does “being a bigot just to be a bigot” mean? Do you think there’s Klansmen out there who don’t really think black people are inferior, but joined the Klan anyway so they’d have something to do on a Saurday night?

Well, kind of. Even hate groups can offer some of the same benefits as any other voluntary association (companionship, and so on).

> [@AK84](#):
>
> Why do I think that there is more to this case then meets the eye?

Because you’ve never been to Texas?

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**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/30 "2011-08-26T13:45:56Z")

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> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Because you’ve never been to Texas?

I have. But then I was about 13. And not involved in a custody dispute.

Still in a family case one would think such an order would occur only if there was evidence that the father had been taking the child in situations which were iffy.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/31 "2011-08-26T14:13:24Z")

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Such as?

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**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/32 "2011-08-26T14:16:06Z")

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The ‘iffy’ situation for the judge in this case was the father being a gay man, living a gay lifestyle.

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**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/33 "2011-08-26T14:26:40Z")

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> [@AWB](#):
>
> No, the article says (highlight mine):

AWB

you must have got something wrong when you went to bold that also. The article says excludes. Not also. Reread! Don’t add your own words to the article.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/34 "2011-08-26T15:01:09Z")

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Uh… what?

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**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/35 "2011-08-26T15:06:47Z")

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> [@fifty-six](#):
>
> AWB
> 
> you must have got something wrong when you went to bold that also. The article says excludes. Not also. Reread! Don’t add your own words to the article.

Here is the entire fourth paragraph, cut and paste, no edit:

> [@](#):
>
> Following the trial, Harris County Associate Judge Charley E. Prine, Jr. issued a ruling which included an injunction applicable only to William. It prohibits him from leaving his children alone with any male to whom the kids are not related by “blood or adoption.” So if, for example, William wants to visit his mother in the hospital (where she’s been for several weeks), he can’t leave his kids at home with his husband. As written, the injunction also prohibits male doctors, teachers and pastors from being alone with the children.

Note the last sentence. **AWB** changed nothing.

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**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/36 "2011-08-26T15:11:03Z")

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> [@fifty-six](#):
>
> AWB
> 
> you must have got something wrong when you went to bold that also. The article says excludes. Not also. Reread! Don’t add your own words to the article.

I just hit Ctrl-F and searched for ‘exclude’. It doesn’t appear anywhere in the article linked in the OP. Which article are you looking at?

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**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/37 "2011-08-26T15:21:07Z")

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Now I’m confused. That’s a key word, people!

Going to go **goose-step for cardio** \* till this clears up.

- I called it first: BAND NAME! 😃

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**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/38 "2011-08-26T17:19:47Z")

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**fifty-six** appears to be referring to the the word “exclude” in the OP, not the linked article. Not that that makes him any less wrong, but I think that’s where the confusion is stemming from.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/39 "2011-08-26T17:21:44Z")

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**fifty-six** appears to be a doofus.

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**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-men-alone-with-that-child-says-texas-judge/594072/40 "2011-08-26T17:29:40Z")

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I wonder if anyone really cares. If the guy walks out his door to get the morning paper and leaves his son with his husband for 30 seconds, is a SWAT team going to show up? If he takes his kid to a doctor, is the doctor going to pull the guy’s records and call a cop?

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