Court says Texas should not have taken the YZR kids

38 mothers from the Yearning For Zion Ranch win in Texas.

Here’s my question though–What about the men? Fine, the women won, they get their kids back, but what happens now? Since we don’t hear any news about the men from this compound, I can’t help but make some educated guesses about the black holes in this story

Assuming that every man who is a part of this compound ranch has underage wives, they should NOT get custody of their children back. And that means that either the men or the women/children can’t live at the ranch anymore. and assuming that, what happens next?

Or are my assumptions wrong, and the lack of coverage/action/prosecution are signs that this whole thing is going to blink out while the nation forgets about this horrible situation, and life on the ranch goes back to “normal”?

More on Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Compound

This week all of the over 400 children (all but 24 of whom are female) will be getting DNA testing, and are being held in the court’s custody until further notice. I won’t go further into the case because you can find info. about it just about anywhere.

But I do want to point out the video below, which is just one installment of Larry King Live’s exclusive with some women of the compound. My heart cries out to these women, they are obviously terrified, and are being fed lines. However incapable of speaking truthfully about their own condition, I am SO SO pleased that this story is getting so much coverage, and that these women are being asked to talk to the press. Women are so often silenced. I think in this case, though, the men of the compound know that the public will be kinder to the women, while they keep out of sight.

But while lot’s of outcry and press is good—fuck if the press so damned insensitive? These women keep their eyes down and cower like beaten dogs, and yet the press for the most part (especially Larry King, who doesn’t transition his tone or approach at all) treat them as though they ought to be capable of sitting in front of a gazillion hounding questioners and not pee their dresses.

These women should be treated more tenderly, just like so many female victims of sexual and other violence. Now’s the time for them to get out.

Is anyone out there advocating freedom or help for these women? If so, please let us know via a comment or an e-mail to me.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has done it again

I had to read this article twice, because I couldn’t have read it right the first time: First off, the title of the article calls this guy Barlow a “Polygamist” and not a pedophile and rapist; second, they didn’t arrest him on the aforementioned charges. Unfortunately, the second time around didn’t settle my outrage.

What does this statement by authorities mean: “But at this point, Dale is not being arrested, and we are working cooperatively with them, and we made very clear to them that they have made a mistake.”? Is that the way men who rape girls but have lots of money get slapped on the wrist? “Don’t do it again or we’re gonna call your Ma,” type of shit? Let me ask you this Mister Authority: What exactly was the mistake? Since Barlow isn’t being arrested for anything?

Not only does the 16-year-old girl in question say she was beaten and raped, but she already has a child with 50-year-old Dale Evans Barlow and is in a “Spiritual marriage” with him. Pause. ..no wait, let’s pause again-HOW IS THAT NORMAL?

And “Barlow served 45 days in jail and is on three years of probation after pleading no contest last year to charges of conspiracy to have sex with a minor.” Still not enough evidence? When police raided the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ ranch last week, they found over 400 children, most of whom were girls….where’d all the boys go? Who are the mothers of these children? Of the 11 to 17-year-olds, how many of them are “married” and having sex with this guy, or other grown men?

How is this not a really easy case-closed crime against girls and women?