Good news for parents and children in New York state! In keeping with the state's ruling last year that same-sex marriages made out of state (in Canada, for example) had to be respected, the state health department now says that both parents in such marriages will be listed on the birth certificates of children born to them.
Any child born to a married woman is automatically considered the child of her husband--even if the woman conceived with donor sperm or other means (ahem) in which her husband is not the baby's biological parent. But in the case of children born to lesbians with partners who plan to parent with them, second-parent adoption is usually required (if it is, indeed, available) in order to secure the non-biological mother's rights.
With the new plan in New York, second parents will be immediately able to have access to and information about their children in the hospital, an invaluable privilege, as I'm sure those of you who've clocked NICU time can attest.
Now come on, New York, don't do this by halves. It's time to start performing those same-sex marriages so couples don't have to elope to Massachusetts any more. You know you could use those gay wedding dollars in this economy!
See Also:
Mother is Just Another Word
Parents Must Give Adopted Son Back
Image: http://www.parentscanada.com
