Canadian Province Moves To Amend Family
Law For Gay Parents
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: September 19, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET
(Halifax, Nova Scotia) Faced with a
human rights complaint that it was discriminating against same-sex parents who
are legally married the Nova Scotia government Thursday announced it would
change its birth-registration process. Earlier this week Jamie and Emily O'Neill
filed a complaint with the provincial human rights commission over Nova Scotia's
refusal to recognize Jamie O'Neil as a parent of the couples newborn baby.
In Nova Scotia only the names of the
birth mother and the birth father could be listed on a birth certificate. The
O'Neills were legally married in Halifax two years ago, after the Canadian
government legalized same-sex marriage in 2005. After Emily O'Neill gave
birth to their daughter Jordyn on August 7, Jamie discovered that the she had no
legal parenting rights to the baby. A government official told her that under
Nova Scotia's Vital Statistics Act she would have to adopt Jordyn if she wanted
to be considered a co-parent.
Thursday the government announced it has changed the birth-registration process
to conform with the federal marriage law. Nova Scotia cabinet minister
Jamie Muir said his government is committed to ensuring that same-sex couples
are treated with the same respect and dignity as everyone else.
The new Vital Statistics regulations allow the same-sex partner or spouse of the
birth mother to be registered as the other parent on the birth registration.
update........
(Little Rock,
Arkansas) Arkansas's attorney general said Wednesday he will reject a
proposed voter-backed initiative aimed at barring unmarried couples from
adopting or fostering children. A conservative group hoped to use the ban to
keep gay couples from becoming foster parents.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said the proposal submitted by the Arkansas
Family Council is inconsistent. He said the group would be allowed to
redraft and resubmit it.
"I strongly suspect they will incorporate our changes and maybe a few of their own, resubmit it, and I'll ultimately certify it. But it did not meet the legal requirements to certify it right now," McDaniel said.
Courts overturned Arkansas' previous ban on gay foster parents. Jerry Cox, the Arkansas Family Council's executive director, has said that a voter-led initiative that targeted all unmarried couples - not just gay couples - would better withstand a judge's review.
Cox said last month that the group believes cohabiting heterosexuals are not safe for children, either.
If McDaniel approves a new draft proposal and the Arkansas Family Council obtains 61,947 valid signatures in time, the proposal would be on the November 2008 ballot.
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