2 Parenting Victories in 2 Days!
Published December 29, 2008 @ 12:49PM PT
This holiday season, Lambda Legal is proud to share with you two victories on behalf of same-sex parents and their children.
After legally adopting their Louisiana-born son in the state of New York, Oren Adar and his partner Mickey Smith applied for a new birth certificate for their child, only to be told by the Louisiana state registrar that they could not be issued a birth certificate because the state does not recognize adoption by unmarried parents. We made the case on their behalf, citing the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which requires states to respect court judgments — including adoption decrees — that are lawfully obtained in other states. On Tuesday, a U.S. District Judge ruled against the Louisiana registrar and ordered her to issue a new birth certificate identifying both men as the boy's parents.
Adar, who now lives with Smith and their son in San Diego said, "As an adopted child myself, I understand the need to feel like you belong."
In Ohio, we successfully represented a non-biological mother who sought shared custody after her ex-partner barred her from seeing the couple's daughter. After a trial, the court found our client's testimony "very credible," and concluded that the couple had a binding understanding that they would act as co-parents for the child. As a result, our client can continue to be her daughter's mother.
Lambda Legal's work to protect LGBT families began in the 1970s when we helped a lesbian foster mother retain custody of her foster children and a gay father obtain visitation rights with his children. Our work continues to strengthen rights for same-sex parents because we understand that intimate and enduring relationships are important to everyone.
From all of us at Lambda Legal, we wish you, your families and your loved ones a safe and happy New Year!
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