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The Law

FLORIDA STATE STATUTES
MARRIAGE
TITLE XLIII - DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Chapter 741 - Husband And Wife

741.212 Marriages between persons of the same sex

(1) Marriages between persons of the same sex entered into in any jurisdiction, whether within or outside the State of Florida, the United States, or any other jurisdiction, either domestic or foreign, or any other place or location, or relationships between persons of the same sex which are treated as marriages in any jurisdiction, whether within or outside the State of Florida, the United States, or any other jurisdiction, either domestic or foreign, or any other place or location, are not recognized for any purpose in this state.

(2) The state, its agencies, and its political subdivisions may not give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any state, territory, possession, or tribe of the United States or of any other jurisdiction, either domestic or foreign, or any other place or location respecting either a marriage or relationship not recognized under subsection (1) or a claim arising from such a marriage or relationship.

(3) For purposes of interpreting any state statute or rule, the term "marriage" means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the term "spouse" applies only to a member of such a union.






    A Florida custody battle between Linda Kantaras and her transsexual husband, Michael, results in a decision granting Michael custody. The case is likely to set a precedent for future cases that deal with defining marriages and the parental rights of transsexuals.
   
   
  • Case background

  • Full coverage

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  • Michael Kantaras' life

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  • Florida statutes

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  • Discuss the case

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  • Klieman & Hayes

  • CourtTV anchors chat about the case
       
       
  • Judge's ruling

  • In this 809-page ruling, Judge Gerard O'Brien explains Michael Kantaras is legally a male, and so his marriage to Linda was legally binding (PDF)
  • Divorce judgment

  • The details regarding the custody arrangment, care of the children, assets and other divorce issues are outlined in this 12-page document (PDF)
  • Birth records

  • Michael Kantaras' Ohio birth certificate reflects his March 26, 1959, birth as a female named Margo but an Ohio court ordered the document be changed to show his new sex and new name
  • Name change

  • A Texas court granted Margo Kantaras a legal name change to Michael John Kantaras in March 1986
  • MORE DOCUMENTS

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