200 Rally to Boost Fathers’ Custody Rights

About 200 people gathered Wednesday at a candlelight rally to call for changes in child custody laws that would allow men an equal voice in raising children of divorced parents.

Sponsored by the Orange County chapter of the Coalition of Parental Support, protesters from throughout Southern California gathered in front of the Orange County Superior Court building to raise awareness of what they say are custody laws that unfairly favor divorced women.

Many of those in attendance were women married to previously divorced men who have limited access to their children because of court action.

“My husband can only see his sons every other weekend because of a judge’s ruling,” said Rose Monardo of Anaheim. “It’s incredibly unfair that he’s not allowed to see them during the week or even go near them but every other Saturday.”

As they waited for the rally to began, most men exchanged stories about their custody battles.

“We don’t stand a chance. Women have most of the rights, even if they aren’t good mothers,” said Tony Saldana, 26, of Alhambra.

Saldana, who said he did not marry the mother of his 5 1/2-year-old son, said the boy lives two blocks from his house, but he is not allowed to visit during the week except for one hour and 45 minutes on Wednesdays.

A common complaint from the fathers was that most judges who hear divorce cases see them merely as providers.

“I am not a paycheck. I’m a father,” said Scott Lloyd, 38, of Sierra Madre. Lloyd said he is twice divorced and has five children living with their mothers in Vermont. He said that he has been ordered to pay a total of $2,200 per month in child support to his former wives but was not allowed joint custody of the children.

Most men had photos of their children pinned to their shirts or hanging around their necks. Several speakers said that the only way to change custody laws is to raise public awareness. One speaker said that men have been steadily losing ground in custody cases in the past 20 years.

“I live 10 minutes from my daughter and could easily pick her up in the morning and drive her to school,” said Michael Kelley of Carlsbad. “But the judge said I can only see her every other weekend. Her mother would rather ask a neighbor to drive the kid to school than call me.”