Protecting Archives - Page 8 of 19

Indiana Asks Supreme Court to Deny Same-Sex Parents’ Right to Both Be on Kids’ Birth Certificates Without Adoption

June 23, 2020

Indiana has just asked the U.S. Supreme Court to deny the right of married nonbiological mothers in same-sex couples to be put on their children’s birth certificates without second-parent adoptions. Should Indiana prevail, many children across the country could be denied the legal protection of both parents from the moment of birth. Pull up a chair; we’re going to explore this one in detail.

New York Approves Gestational Surrogacy and Simplifies Legal Recognition for Nonbiological Parents

April 3, 2020

After a long effort by LGBTQ parents, prospective parents, and other advocates, the State of New York will finally legalize gestational surrogacy—and simplify and strengthen the laws around recognizing nonbiological parents and single parents in all families formed through reproductive technologies.

Federal Appeals Court: Same-Sex Spouses in Indiana May Both Be on Children’s Birth Certificates

January 21, 2020

It’s hard to believe that nearly five years after federal marriage equality, we’re still seeing courts having to determine if same-sex married parents may both be on their children’s birth certificates. At least this recent decision in Indiana was a positive one.

Parent-child hands. Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash

Trump Administration Issues New Rule to Allow Discrimination in Adoption, Foster Care, and Other Healthcare Services

November 1, 2019

The Trump administration has once again outdone itself in loathsomeness by issuing a new rule today—the first day of National Adoption Month—that allows taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. In fact, it would let all recipients of grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) engage in such discrimination, which could impact programs dedicated to youth homelessness, HIV, STI, and substance abuse prevention, among others. Here’s what you can do to help counter it.

Parentage Bills to Help LGBTQ Families and Others Fail in New York, Rhode Island

June 27, 2019

It’s been a disappointing few days for legislation that would have helped LGBTQ families, as bills that would have more effectively protected families formed through assisted reproduction failed in both New York and Rhode Island.

Oklahoma Supreme Court: Nonbiological Parents Have “Complete Parity”

June 26, 2019

The Oklahoma Supreme Court not only ruled in favor of a nonbiological mother in a child custody case yesterday, but established guidelines for future cases, writing conclusively that “A non-biological same-sex parent stands in parity with a biological parent.”

New York Bill Would Protect All Children Born Through Assisted Reproduction and Legalize Surrogacy

June 11, 2019

New York State, where the Stonewall Riots accelerated the LGBTQ rights movement, is in many ways one of the most LGBTQ-friendly states around. Yet the state’s laws do not yet effectively protect families created through assisted reproductive technologies. That could change very soon.

Trump Administration Plans to Allow Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care: Here’s What You Can Do

May 28, 2019

It’s only surprising if you weren’t paying attention. The Trump administration let slip last week that they are considering two paths to allowing discrimination against LGBTQ people and others in adoption and foster care, following up on what they’ve intended for a long time.

A Day of Wins: Equality Act Passes House; Taiwan Approves Same-Sex Marriage (but Not Full Adoption Rights)

May 17, 2019

Not only does today mark the 15th anniversary of the landmark decision that first brought marriage equality to a U.S. state, and the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, but it will now also be known as the day a comprehensive, federal LGBTQ civil rights bill first passed a chamber of the U.S. Congress and the day that Taiwan legalized marriage for same-sex couples—the first country in Asia to do so. Progress to celebrate—but there is further to go, as the Equality Act faces a tougher battle in the Senate, and same-sex couples in Taiwan still will not have equal adoption rights.

Rhode Island Parents Testify for Bills to Recognize and Protect All Families

March 25, 2019

Many queer parents and allies turned out at a Rhode Island House hearing last week to testify in support of two bills that would make it easier for parents of any gender, married or not, to establish legal parentage of a child born through assisted reproduction and to streamline the process ofÂ second-parent adoptions.