According to New York State Law, a Stepfather or Stepmother can get custody of their partner’s children that had come from a previous marriage or relationship. They would have to still pay whatever child support the biological parent owed, but the biological parent has no rights to the children whatsoever. So in this case, it is a good thing if that former partner is a psychopath or something along those lines. Of course you have to show due cause to make the biological parent lose all his/her rights to the children. Sounds good right?

Well, what about LGBT families?
If an LGBT Step Parent does the same, the biological parent still has visitation and say in the child’s life. So while an LGBT Step parent is taking care of their step child the constant fear will nag at them since the child’s safety is in jeopardy. It isn’t fair to an LGBT Step parent to take care of a child and then be forced to put that child at risk!

This petition needs to be signed to end the discrimination in the laws and to protect children in these families.

http://socyberty.com/issues/stop-discrimination-in-child-custody-laws-towards-lgbt-step-parents/

 

This specific law has to be amended to end the discrimination. I propose Gabriella's Law. A law in which LGBT step parents get equal treatment as heterosexual step parents and the children can be safe and in safe and loving environments.