The last state to ban adoptions by gay men and lesbians conceded defeat Friday. Florida’s Attorney General, Bill McCollum, said there will be no appeal of the case that led to the overturning of the state’s 33-year-old law. The case, decided by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, involved licensed foster parent Frank Martin Gill…
New York’s highest court ruled 7-0 yesterday (May 4) that a non-biological mother is a legal parent and entitled to seek custody and visitation. The New York Court of Appeals based its decision on a Vermont civil union that the non-biological mother and her former partner entered into before the birth of their son. The…
Illinois is among several states that have laws which clearly allow unmarried persons, including same-sex couples, to adopt. The Illinois Adoption Act states that “a reputable person of legal age and of either sex” may petition to adopt a child. 750 ILCS 50/2. Illinois courts have held that this applies to unmarried same-sex couples or…
Illinois is among several states that have laws which explicitly allow same-sex couples to adopt. The Illinois Adoption Act states that “a reputable person of legal age and of either sex” may petition to adopt a child. 750 ILCS 50/2. Illinois appellate courts have interpreted the Adoption Act to permit same-sex couples or lesbian or…