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"One can scarcely conceive a more egregious intrusion than such forced disclosure of one's sexual relations in the mass media," the American Civil Liberties Union said in a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the law.

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How true.

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Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach will hear oral arguments

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There's a very easy way for a man to guarantee his right to be a parent. Don't bang and run!

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Won't even let guys put scarlet letters on those whores anymore, huh Mr. Magoo?

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Michelle: I didn't ask for anyone to be branded. I asked if anyone could think of a way to guarantee that fathers are at least informed of paternity and given a chance to be parents, without the stigma that accompanies the current law. A registry is a start.

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There's a very easy way for a man to guarantee his right to be a parent. Don't bang and run!

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It's usually the guy who doesn't want to pay support and takes off when a woman becomes pregnant.

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Really? It never happens that he's simply not told?

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Those who want to be part of their children's lives usually stick around and do their part.

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Assuming they're told in the first place.

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This law was put into effect to try to locate deadbeat dads...

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How would putting an ad in the paper do that? If "dad" saw it and didn't want to be part of his child's life, why would he answer the ad??

Examples of other stories in this category:
770-Pound Moose Lands on Car in Norway
Schroeder and Chirac meet in 'Final Appeal' tavern (Reuters)
Clever Octopus Caught with Tentacle in Shrimp Jar (Reuters)
Taiwan's Sewer Covers Pop Up in China (AP)

[ 24 February 2003: Message edited by: girlpublisher ]

I still say that in most cases, the man didn't care when the girl was pregnant and shouldn't be given any rights later. However, I have mixed feelings because there is the hereditary medical history and heritage to be considered as well. The child should have the right to that information. I just don't think this public condemnation of the women is the right way to do it. In the few cases where a guy didn't know, there shouldn't be such a problem with identifying him.

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Can anyone suggest an alternative law that would give reasonable protection to a woman's privacy, but would also guarantee that the father of a child is guaranteed at least the opportunity to be a parent?

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No. The right of the woman to keep her sexual history to herself conflicts with the right of a man to know whether he is the father of a specific child.

However, I think the main social problem is not men-who-wish-to-be-fathers being denied that right; rather, it is women who cannot provide for their babies, and seek some minimally-decent solution, such as adoption.

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However, I think the main social problem is not men-who-wish-to-be-fathers being denied that right; rather, it is women who cannot provide for their babies

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Actually, as stated, the law seeks to prevent fathers from discovering their paternity after a child has been adopted.

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And please; no automatic DNA banks! The potential for discrimination, for example by insurance companies, is massive.

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The DNA testing does not have to test for the existence of any given disease or condition. It only needs to be used as something of a "heredity fingerprint", establishing that this child is indeed from that father. This could be of assistance in replacing the law in question, as well as tracking down deadbeat dads and preventing paternity fraud.

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The DNA testing does not have to test for the existence of any given disease or condition. It only needs to be used as something of a "heredity fingerprint",

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Magoo, Mr.: AI-9C-U7-YY-A2-22
Doe, John : AI-8C-U2-YY-A2-32
Doe, Jane : 64-E5-39-AD-DB-SP

Mr. Magoo, what are your feelings on the gun registry?

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Why should the state have records of my lineage?

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If they have your blood type on record, then in a less accurate sense they already do. All that DNA checking would do is increase the accuracy of it.
And *why*?

Because you have a right to know who your parents are and your parents have a right to know that you're their child.

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Mr. Magoo, what are your feelings on the gun registry?

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That it's pretty expensive, and won't prevent crime (although it might be useful after the fact).

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Do you see a link?

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Er... no. Taking a DNA "fingerprint" at birth might actually prevent:

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Odd's are if the woman has to look for the man, he doesn't want to be a 'family man'.

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Hasn't he already expressed his disregard for that right by being ABSENT?

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How do we even know he was told?

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If she chooses to carry the baby to term, but plans to give it up for adoption once it's born, shouldn't that choice be afforded the exact same protection?

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The choice is hers alone.

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Hasn't he already expressed his disregard for that right by being ABSENT?
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How do we even know he was told?

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The choice is hers alone.

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When it's a choice about her body. Once she decides NOT to have an abortion, it's not about her body anymore. And certainly once the baby has left her body, it's no longer a "choice" issue at all.

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The whole point is that if he's not there, he clearly doesn't need to be told because he's already expressed a disregard for the woman and the consequences of their having had sex.

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What's he supposed to do? Follow her around until he's sure that their sex didn't result in pregnancy??

Besides, if she carries the child to term, she gets to see it and decide whether or not she really wants to give it up for adoption. And even if she decides she does, many jurisdictions have a short period of grace in which she can reconsider and undo her choice.

But you're suggesting if a man has sex with a woman and doesn't call her the next day asking if she's pregnant then his "disregard" for her clearly indicates his intentions & he needs no second chance?

[ 25 February 2003: Message edited by: Mr. Magoo ]

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MIAMI, May 30 — Gov. Jeb Bush signed a bill today repealing the state's "Scarlet Letter" law that required single women planning to put their infants up for adoption to first publish their sexual histories in a newspaper if they did not know the identity of the father.

A 2001 bill including a series of adoption-law revisions passed by large margins in both the Florida House and Senate and became law when Mr. Bush declined to veto it, with the understanding that the legislature would revise the publication provision.

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When the original legislation was approved, many lawmakers who voted for it said later that they did not read it thoroughly and were unaware that it contained the publication provision.

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quote:The whole point is that if he's not there, he clearly doesn't need to be told because he's already expressed a disregard for the woman and the consequences of their having had sex.

What's he supposed to do? Follow her around until he's sure that their sex didn't result in pregnancy??

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Ok, this is what happened to a fellow I work with...

He grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario. He dated a girl for a few months at the end of high school. As stupid teenagers, the two of them had unprotected sex. He then moved to Toronto to get a job.

A year later, the guy's mother receives a call from the girl that she's had his baby. On his mother's advice, the guy asks for tests to prove paternity. The girl refuses, and disappears.

5 years later, she calls again, now demanding child support. He again asks for proof of paternity. I overheard part of the phone conversation, and so he told me his story. I haven't heard the girl's story, but it seems to me a case of two dumb kids not knowing what they were doing.

My friend has told me that if he is indeed a father, he definately wants to be a part of the child's life, but he's totally stressed out now, and can't even get the ex-girlfriend to agree to the tests to prove it one way or the other. The tests cost hundreds of dollars he doesn't really have right now.

I don't deny this is ONE anectodal piece of evidence, and I'm sure that for every case like my friend there are a dozen of men who are purposefully avoiding supporting their children. But I, and I suspect Mr. Magoo feels the same way, just find statements like "All men are such-and such" as annoying as statements like "All women are such-and-such".

There ARE men who would prefer to be a part of their children's lives if they had the opportunity. These aren't theoretical, hypothetical or imaginary men, they are real, and their children are real. There's nothing wrong with pointing it out.