
Photo by Brooke Thorington
Legislation to terminate the parental rights of the violator if a child is conceived as a result of sexual assault is before the legislature. Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR) President Morgan Lamandre recounted a case in which a judge believed it was in the best interest of the child to have two parents, despite how they were conceived.
“She wanted the child to interact with the rapist, it was very traumatic in going through all that and we want to make it clear that that kind of representation would not be allowed,” said Lamandre.
House Bill 298 would also deny the perpetrator visitation rights and any other contact with the child.
And if a mother wants to place her child for adoption, Lamandre said this bill would also terminate the perpetrator’s rights to intervene in the adoption process.
“This is really important for survivors that do become pregnant as a result of rape and do not want to place their child for adoption, or even if they do, that they are not being forced to co-parent with their rapist,” said Lamandre.
Solicitor General Liz Murrell said she assisted in writing the legislation to better clarify parental rights and to protect women who’ve chosen to either keep or place the child for adoption that was conceived from a violent act.
“The law can become a weapon, a weapon to further victimize women who have made a difficult and personal decision and are raising their child,” said Murrell.
The bill advanced from House Civil Law and Procedure without any opposition and is headed to the House floor.
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