NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Wilky Fain said he's on a crusade for all parents who feel they've been unfairly treated in child custody battles.

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Fain said he wasn't allowed to see his daughter, Addie, until she was almost 1 year old. He and the child's mother never married.

"We want to change the law in Tennessee," said Fain.

Fain is supporting a bill that's now in the state House that would force courts to allow for equal parenting unless a parent is considered unfit. Under the proposal, parents would be given equal time with their children.

"The horror of the family court system, if you've never seen it, sit through it. Kids (are) separated from people, and you don't know why," said Fain.

Supporters of the legislation said mothers are favored in the majority of child custody cases.

Rep. Mike Bell is sponsoring the equal parenting bill in the House. Tuesday, Bell and other legislators listened as judges and others voiced opposition to the bill, saying parenting plans work and to change things could put children in jeopardy.

"We think the current law looks at what's in the best interest of the child," said opponent Karen Franklin. "It focuses on parents working together."

Craig Schelske, ex-husband of country music singer Sara Evans, supports the equal parenting bill.

"My heart goes out to my kids and other who go through this difficult time," said Schelske.

In the end, lawmakers decided to wait until next week to make a decision about the equal parenting bill, and both sides plan to be there when that happens.