Minnesota same-sex couples may be interested to learn that a U.S. District Court judge’s ruling on Mississippi’s same-sex adoption ban has made it legal for couples in all 50 states to adopt children. The judge ruled that, since same-sex marriage in all 50 states was legal, same-sex married couples were entitled to the same rights as other married couples, which includes the ability to adopt.
The ruling was made after four same-sex couples filed lawsuits against the state. Two LGBT advocate organizations joined the married couples. According to the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, two couples had waited several years to adopt the children that they had cared for since they were born.
However, the state had adopted a law in 2000 that prevented married same-sex couples from adopting children. Other states that originally had similar bans had already been overturned, which left Mississippi as the lone state who still had the same-sex adoption ban. With the recent ruling, all same-sex couples across the nation can seek to adopt children. The lead counsel hoped that lifting the ban sent the state a message that discrimination based on sexual orientation was unconstitutional.
In the state of Minnesota, it is legal for same-sex couples to adopt children. However, the adoption process can still be very difficult. A attorney for a same-sex couple who is looking to adopt may assist by walking them through the process and protecting their rights should problems arise. This includes assisting one parent adopting the child if the other parent has already done so.