Sex Change Alimony Case Ruling

On March 28, 2007, I blogged about the request of a Man to have his alimony award suspended because of his wife's sex change operation. Today a Pinellas County Circuit Court Judge rejected his request and stated that the alimony award would remain in place. The reasoning was that Florida law regards post-operative transgendered persons as maintaining the same sex that they were born with, therefore the reassignment surgery changed nothing. The Judge stated, "Despite the surgery and the fact that the Respondent holds herself out to be a male, Florida recognizes the immutable female traits determined at birth," St. Arnold wrote. "Whether advances in medical science support a change in the meaning commonly attributed to the terms 'male' and 'female' as they are used in Florida, is a question that raises issues of public policy that should be addressed by the Legislature, not the Florida courts." I think that the Judge got the ruling right, but I'm sure this isn't the last we hear of cases such as this one.

If you would like to read the story in its entirety, you can find it at: http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18173781&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568860&rfi=6