Mississippi Ban on Same-Sex Couples Ability to Adopt Challenged

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Summary: Mississippi is the only state left with a ban on allowing same-sex couples to adopt, leading to an obvious lawsuit to change that law.

Mississippi is the last state to have a ban on same-sex couples from adopting. The law forbidding them from adopting was enacted in 2000 when gay marriage was not popular. In 15 years, the laws and attitudes towards gay marriage have changed dramatically.

  

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When the Supreme Court passed the ruling two months ago that same-sex couples were allowed to marry in any state, other related issues have been quick to follow. Many view this case as just a technicality and don’t expect a full legal challenge. As the complaint states, “The Mississippi Adoption Ban writes inequality into Mississippi law by requiring that married gay and lesbian couples and parents be treated differently than all other married couples in Mississippi.”

Mississippi has the highest percentage of all states with 29 percent of same-sex couples raising children under the age of 18. New York has been allowing same-sex couples to adopt since 1996.

The lawsuit was filed by the Campaign for Southern Equality, the Family Equality Council, and four Mississippi same-sex couples. Robert Kaplan will be handling the case on behalf of the couples. Kaplan was also the one to file the case against Mississippi’s ban on gay marriage last year.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/us/mississippi-ban-on-adoptions-same-sex-couples-challenged.html?_r=0

Photo: henriettahudson.com