Another Victory for Gay Parents and Their Children

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nadine-smith/gay-parents-florida_b_1191105.html

Floridians still celebrating the end of the anti-gay adoption ban can hail another huge victory for gay parents and their children.

On Dec. 23, 2011, Florida's 5th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the state of Florida must recognize the parental rights of two lesbian moms, one the biological mother who contributed the egg and the other who was the birth mother.

The ruling comes as the result of a bitter custody battle between the couple, who had been together for 11 years. They planned the pregnancy, gave the child their hyphenated last names, and together raised their daughter for over two years. When the relationship ended and the custody negotiations turned sour, the birth mother claimed sole parental rights to the couple's daughter.

The appeals court decision overturns an earlier trial court decision. The trial court concluded that the law supported the birth mother, to the exclusion of the biological mother, and ruled in her favor even though they found her actions "morally reprehensible." In issuing the ruling that deprived the biological mother of her parental rights, the trial court judge said, "It breaks my heart, but this is the law." He concluded by saying, if his decision was appealed, "I hope I'm wrong."

[MarkCharles]

1. Interesting, and in a state like Florida, very enlightened decision! n/t