The Co-Evolution of Marriage and Parental Rights of Gays and Lesbians

ABSTRACT

Historically, federal and state legislation placed different conditions on same- and opposite-sex couples' ability to marry, adopt, or exercise their parental rights. Given the historical intertwining of marriage and parenting, legal issues remain hinged on differing conceptions of marriage and what constitutes a legal family in the United States, especially for same-sex partners compared to their different-sexed couple counterparts. This article provides a historical review of decisions that serve as the foundation for queer parenting rights in the United States. A key focus is on the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) marriage decision on queer parenting and its relevance to researchers and practitioners whose work involves queer families. State discrepancies continue to exist for the treatment of parental rights in spite of the legalization of same-sex marriage. Finally, suggestions are provided for future directions for the field.

KEYWORDS:

• Families
• gays and lesbians
• law
• Obergefell v. Hodges
• parental rights
• parents

Cases cited

     Adar v. Smith, 597 F.3d 697, 697 (5th Cir. 2010), reversed, Adar, 639 F.3d 146 (5th Cir. 2011).

Baehr v. Lewin, 74 Haw. 530, 852 P.2d 44 (1993).

Baker v. Vermont, 744 A.2d 864 (Vt. 1999).

Baker v. General Motors Corp., 522 U.S. 222 (1998).

Bottoms v. Bottoms, 444 S.E.2d 276 (Va. Ct. App. 1994).

Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 US 186 (1986).

Davenport v. Little-Bowser, 611 S.E.2d 366, 269 Va. 546 (2005).

Doe v. Irwin, 441 F.Supp. 1247 (U.S. D.C. of Michigan 1985).

E.N.O. v. L.M.M., 711 N.E.2d 886, 891 (Mass. 1999).

Ex Parte JMF, 730 So. 2d 1190 (Ala. 1998).

Finlay v. Finlay, 212 App. Div. 786 (N.Y. App. Div. 1925).

Finstuen v. Crutcher, 496 F.3d 1139 (101h Cir. 2007).

Florida Department of Health & Rehabilitation Services v. Cox, 627 So. 2d 1210 (Fla, 2d Dist. Ct. App. 1993).

Frazier v. Goudschaal, 295 P.3d 542 (Kan. 2013).

Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (2003).

Gottlieb v. Gottlieb, 488 N.Y.S.2d 180 (1st Dep't. 1985).

Holtzman v. Knott, 533 N.W.2d 419, 421(Wis. 1995).

In re Adoption of Caitlin, 163 Misc. 2d 999 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 1994).

In re Adoption of JMG, 736 P.2d 967 (Mont. 1987).

In re Adoption of B.L.V.B., 628 A.2d 1271 (Vt. 1993).

In re Adoption of T. K. J., 931 P.2d 488 (1996).

In re Adoption of Tammy, 6I9 N.E.2d 3I5 (Mass. 1993).

In re Costanza, No. 13–1049 (La. Ct. App. June 4, 2014).

In re Evan, 583 N.Y.S.2d 997, 998–99 (N.Y. Sur. Ct. 1992).

In re Gentry, 369 NW.2d 889 (MI App. Div.1985).

In re H.S.H-K, 193 Wis. 2d 649, 533 N.W.2d 419 (1995).

In re M. M. D., 662 A.2d (D.C. 1995).

In re Paternity of F.T.R., WI 66 (2013).

In re Perlman, 188 B.R. 704 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 1995).

In re T. P. S., 978 N.E.2d 1070 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012).

In re V.L. v. E.L. 577 (U.S. 2016).

J. B. v. Washington County, 127 F.3d 919, 925 (10th Cir.1997).

Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003).

Lofton v. Department of Children & Family Services, F.3d 1275, 1301 (11th Cir. 2004).

Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967).

Malik v. Arapahoe County Department of Social Services, 191 F.3d 1306 (10th Cir. 1999).

Mancine v. Gansner, 358 Ill.Dec. 521, 965 N.E.2d 592 (Ill.App.2012).

Meldrum v. Novotny, 640 N.W.2d 460 (S. Dak. 2002).

Miller-Jenkins v. Miller-Jenkins, 912 A. 2d 951 (2006).

Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390; 43 S.Ct. 625 (U.S. 1923).

Miller-Jenkins v. Miller-Jenkins, 912 A. 2d 951 (2006).

Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S.__(2015).

Parham v. J. R., 442 U.S. 584, 602 (1979).

Perdue v. Mississippi State Board of Health, Miss. 5th Chancery Ct. Dist., 2003).

Perry v. Schwarzenegger, 704 F. Supp. 2d 921 (2010).

Pickett v. Brown, 462 U.S. 1 (1983).

Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158 (1944).

Resendes v. Brown, 966 A.2d 1249, 1256 (R.I. 2009).

Romer v. Evans, 517 US 620 (1996).

Rowell v. Smith, 2013 WL 2404814 (Ohio App. 10th 2013).

Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551 (1972).

Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 68 (2000).

United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013).

United States v. Windsor, 699 F. 3d 169 (2013).

Ward v. San Jose, 967 F.2d (9th Cir. 1991).

Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U.S. 374 (1978).