Have you heard of A.I.? Artificial Inssemination (sp??)?
The good thing is: you do not even need sexual intercourse..
NCLR Applauds California Supreme Court Decisions in
by National Center for Lesbian Rights Monday, Aug. 22, 2005 at 7:12
PM
The California Supreme Court made legal history today by holding,
in three separate decisions, that children born to same-sex couples
must be treated equally to other children and thus have a legally
protected relationship to both partners.
NCLR Press Release
National Center for Lesbian Rights Applauds California Supreme
Court Decisions in Groundbreaking Parenting Cases
For Immediate Release
San Francisco, CA - August 22, 2005
The California Supreme Court made legal history today by holding,
in three separate decisions, that children born to same-sex couples
must be treated equally to other children and thus have a legally
protected relationship to both partners. These decisions are a
tremendous victory for children, for parental responsibility, and
for common sense.
------------------------
This morning the California State Supreme Court issued
groundbreaking opinions in three cases involving the legal status
of children born to same- sex parents. The three cases are Elisa B.
v. Superior Court, K.M. v. E.G., and Kristine H. v. Lisa R. The
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) was counsel for Emily B.,
a mother seeking child support from her former partner, in the
Elisa B. case and filed amicus briefs in the K.M. and the Kristine
H. cases.
In all three cases, the Court held that when a couple deliberately
brings a child into the world through the use of assisted
reproduction, both partners are legal parents, regardless of their
gender or marital status. The California Supreme Court is the first
state Supreme Court to reach this issue, and its holding in these
three cases inevitably will influence courts in other states.
In the Elisa B. case a same-sex couple Emily B. and Elisa B.
had children together using artificial insemination by an anonymous
sperm donor. Emily gave birth to twins in 1998, one of whom has
Down Syndrome.
After the twins birth, the couple decided that Emily would stay
home to care for the children and Elisa would be the familys
breadwinner. When the couple split up 18 months later, Elisa
eventually cut off all contact and support, prompting Emily to
apply for assistance from the state, which brought a child support
action against Elisa. In todays ruling, the California Supreme
Court strongly affirmed the trial courts ruling that Elisa is a
legal parent who cannot simply walk away from her obligation to
support the two children she agreed to bring into the world.
I am elated beyond words that the Court recognized the reality
that my children have two parents, said Emily B. This is a
tremendous victory not only for my family but for all children born
to same-sex couples.
In its decision today, the Court held: A person who actively
participates in bringing children into the world, takes the
children into her home and holds them out as her own, and receives
and enjoys the benefits of parenthood, should be responsible for
the support of those children regardless of her gender or sexual
orientation.
In the K.M. v. E.G. case, a fertilized egg from K.M. was implanted
in her partner E.G., who gave birth to twins in 1996. When the
couple broke up in 2002, E.G. denied K.M. any access to the
children and took the position that she was the childrens only
parent. In its decision today, the Court held that both women are
legal parents.
In the Kristine H. v. Lisa R. case, a same-sex couple had a child
using assisted reproduction. Before the child was born, the couple
sought and were granted a court judgment declaring that both women
were the childs legal parents. After the couple ended their
relationship 2 ½ years later, the birth mother filed an action
seeking to vacate the judgment and have the court declare that she
is the childs only parent. The Court held today that the birth
mother was stopped from challenging the judgment and that both
women are legal parents
