Lesbian moms sue after state refuses to list them on their kids’ birth certificates

The women say if they were a straight couple, they wouldn’t be in the situation they’re in now, accusing Nebraska of “hateful actions towards queer people.”

Photo: Screenshot, KETV

Two women are suing the state of Nebraska to be recognized as the mother of both of their children, claiming that the state is denying them their parenthood because of their gender because an opposite-sex couple in their situation wouldn’t have their parenthood denied.

Erin Porterfield and Kristin Williams each carried one of their children and lived as a family even though they couldn’t get married in their state. The women broke up in 2013, two years before the Supreme Court would legalize marriage equality in all 50 states.

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Porterfield gave birth to their first son, Kadin, nineteen years ago. Three years later, Williams gave birth to Cameron.

Since they couldn’t get legally married, though, the state only allowed each child’s biological mother to be listed on their birth certificate.

Now, unless they get married, the state of Nebraska refuses to recognize them as equal parents to their children.

For years, they have attempted to update their sons’ birth certificates, but the state continues to reject them. A court has currently granted Williams and Porterfield in loco parentis rights over the other’s biological child, but that only provides temporary legal status rather than full parental rights.

Represented by the ACLU of Nebraska, as well as the law firm Koenig-Dunne, Williams and Porterfield, the women filed a lawsuit on Monday claiming the state…

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