Parents & Kids News
SJC: Massachusetts Recognizes California Registered Domestic Partnerships
In an important decision issued today, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously that Massachusetts must recognize other states’ parallel spousal statuses for same-sex couples, such as California registered domestic partnerships. Under the ruling, both spouses are the legal …
GLAD Hails Landmark Ruling in Surrogacy Case
Addressing the issue of parentage in gestational surrogate births for the first time, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on May 3 ruled that District Courts have the authority under current law to determine who a child’s parents are when the child is conceived through procedures like in vitro …
Maine Legislature Passes Anti-Bullying Bill
Yesterday, Maine’s House of Representatives and Senate passed “An Act to Prohibit Bullying in Schools,” which establishes strong anti-bullying protections for Maine students.
“We are thrilled with this bill and the acknowledgement of what we all know: that bullying is a pervasive and serious …
VT Supreme Court Again Affirms Custody for Janet Jenkins
The Vermont Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision affirming a trial court’s 2009 order giving Janet Jenkins sole physical and legal custody of her daughter Isabella Miller-Jenkins. The Court’s decision can be viewed here.
The court wrote that Vermont “has determined that same-sex …
Mother Seeks Public Help to Locate Missing Child
Janet Jenkins today appealed to the public for help in locating her daughter, Isabella Miller-Jenkins. In an interstate custody dispute, the child’s other mother failed to transfer custody per court-order and has disappeared with the child.
In November, the Rutland Family Court in Vermont …
Vermont Supreme Court Upholds Visitation for Janet Jenkins and Daughter
Vermont’s highest court issued a ruling on March 14 upholding visitation rights for Janet Jenkins and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella. Isabella’s biological mother, Lisa Miller, Janet’s former civil union spouse, challenged Janet’s parental rights in a case that has been ongoing since the …
The Importance of Family, at Any Age
Starr Waisenen and Connie Bergen have raised their daughter Melissa together for the past 24 years. But until a recent Maine Law Court decision (see story below) allowing same-sex couples to jointly adopt, Starr and Melissa had no legal relationship. In this story from Maine Public Broadcasting …
Victory for Same-Sex Parents and Children in Maine
At last, Ann Courtney and Marilyn Kirby of Portland will be able to form a permanent, legal parental relationship with their foster children, 10-year-old “M” and her brother, six-year-old “R”. In a unanimous decision, Maine’s Law Court issued a ruling that paves the way for the siblings to be …
Gay Mainers to Have Family Medical Leave
Maine’s legislature passed a bill extending the protections of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to same-sex couples and their families. Working with Equality Maine, the Maine Civil Liberties Union, and the Maine Women’s Lobby, GLAD helped organize testimony, planned media strategy, and talked …
Victory for Gay New Hampshire Employees Seeking Family Benefits
GLAD declared victory today as the state of New Hampshire dropped its appeal in the case Bedford and Breen v. New Hampshire Community Technical College System. The case involves Patricia Bedford and Anne Breen, two state employees who sought the same benefits for their same-sex partners and their …