Posted on 11/16/2006 4:15:11 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
TRENTON, Nov. 15 — A lesbian couple in South Jersey won court approval this week to have both of their names listed as parents on the birth certificate of their newborn, and the attorney general’s office said it will no longer oppose such applications.
The decision, in Family Court in Burlington County, stems from an Oct. 25 ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court holding that same-sex couples are entitled to the same legal rights and protections as heterosexual couples. The court gave the Legislature 180 days either to bring gay couples within the state’s marriage laws or establish a parallel system of civil unions.
“This couple was treated exactly the same way as a married couple under the law of New Jersey,” said Stephen Hyland, the lawyer for the women. “So no matter what New Jersey chooses to do legislatively, the couples have the same rights.”
As the Legislature debates in the next six months, “you’ll see these life-and-death issues,” said Suzanne B. Goldberg, a Columbia University law professor. “Birth and death will not stop while the Legislature is working. State agencies and courts will find themselves wrestling with the issues.”
The baby was born on Tuesday one day after an agreement on the names was reached in a closed Family Court proceeding.
The Burlington County couple, who asked not to be identified, their lawyer said, because they did not want to draw attention to themselves, now do not have to go through an adoption proceeding to establish full parental rights for both. These rights include inheritance, custody and visitation.
In a previous case, in May 2005, the Superior Court in Essex County ruled that a lesbian couple was entitled to have the names of both women listed on their baby’s birth certificate.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Actually it is biologically possible for a child to have two mothers. Japanese scientists have succeeded in combining the nuclei from two separate eggs from a mammalian species to form an embryo which eventually matured into a healthy offspring which eventually grew up to have it's own children. Also, parthenogenesis or reproduction without fertilization is seen in nature in many insect species.
I'm not arguing this either way, I just wanted to let you know about what is/isn't possible :-)
I am moderate with conservative fiscal and monetary beliefs, but I just believe that our government shouldn't be so involved in our personal lives and "morality". My neighbor can marry and have children with whatever he/she desires, it's not my place to instill my morality or beliefs onto them. I miss the days were being a republican means that you stand for small government. I don't mean any offense to anyone, I'm just a little saddened that my party has become so polarized.
That would be T. Baster Jr. Baby daddy is T. Baster. (:^*)
All you fathers, join me in getting up and kissing your children good night.
Shouldn't the birth certificate have the biological mother and the biological father of the child even if he/she does have two mommies?
That would certainly be logical and smart, but...
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