The Michigan legislature yesterday passed the Michigan Family Protection Act, a bill package to decriminalize contractual surrogacy and to ensure that all children born via assisted reproduction—including those with LGBTQ parents—can have equitable access to legal parentage ties from birth, including via a simple acknowledgment of parentage form.
Catch up on some LGBTQ parenting news stories I haven’t covered elsewhere, including legislative moves (positive and negative), profiles of lesbian, gay, and trans parents, and more!
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Monday that nongenetic LGBTQ parents who were unconstitutionally denied the right to marry may seek custody of children they were raising with former partners.
The state of Michigan must continue contracting with child service agencies that discriminate against same-sex couples, according to the settlement this week of a long-running case whose outcome rested on a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court decision. The state’s Children’s Services Agency nevertheless reaffirmed its commitment to supporting LGBTQ people who want to foster or adopt or are already doing so.
Last week, the Michigan Court of Appeals recognized that both women in an unmarried same-sex couple, one the genetic mother and one the gestational mother, have parental rights. This is a clear victory—but the ruling also indicates what is still needed for even fuller protection of all families, no matter who’s in them or how they are formed.
Let’s end the week with a roundup of a few things I haven’t covered yet—family stories, some political bits, and school-related news!
I’ve already highlighted some of 2019’s key news events for LGBTQ parents, but here are a number of other stories from recent weeks to round out and round up the year. Pull up some hot cocoa (or break out the New Year’s bubbly early) and have a read!
Taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies in Michigan may use their religious beliefs as a reason to discriminate against same-sex and unmarried couples, a federal judge ruled yesterday, overturning a settlement that had been reached earlier this year.
Two foster care and adoption agencies were violating Michigan’s nondiscrimination laws by refusing to work with same-sex couples, per the settlement of a case announced today by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Here’s what’s happening that I haven’t covered in depth elsewhere. Pull up a cup of coffee, tea, or other beverage and read on!
