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Subscribe to RSSMIAMI - A Florida judge has approved the adoption of a 22-month-old baby girl that will list three people as parents on her birth certificate -- a married lesbian couple and a gay man.
The decision ends a two-year paternity fight between the couple and a friend of the women who donated his sperm to father the child but later sought a larger role in the girl's life.
The ruling means the child's birth certificate will include a biological father and both women as parents in an unusual arrangement approved recently by a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge.
The women, Maria Italiano, 43, and Cher Filippazzo, 38, had made several unsuccessful attempts to become parents using fertility clinics.
They then turned to Italiano's hair dresser, Massimiliano Gerina, and asked if he would provide his sperm for artificial insemination.
"When push came to shove, they figured he would understand the situation," said Kenneth Kaplan, an attorney for the women.
"The mistake they made, however, was there should have been a written document spelling out what his rights and responsibilities were going to be."
According to Filippazzo, the three reached a verbal agreement before Italiano became pregnant. Filipazzo said the agreement meant she would adopt the baby and the two women, a longtime couple, would raise the child together.
But shortly before the baby was born, Gerina decided he wanted to be considered a parent and not a sperm donor. The women disagreed. Under Florida law, sperm donors have no legal rights to children.
Gerina hired a lawyer, setting off nearly two years of legal wrangling.
Under the judge's decision, the two women will have sole parental rights, although Gerina will be allowed to visit the child. He will not be expected to provide child support.
"We're trying to do the right thing for Emma," Filippazzo said. "We want Emma to have it all, and we believe by doing it this way, including him in a birthday or Thanksgiving, it'll be a nice addition for her."
"We believe the best interest for Emma is for him to have a role in her life, but not as a parent," she said. "The role is this is mommy's good friend who helped your moms have you because they wanted you so badly."
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I don't have anything against gays or lesbians, but in cases like this...Just because we can, doesn't mean we should.
That poor kid has to live with the consequences of selfish adults in her life. I hope she receives only the best, but somehow, with the idiots she has for parents, I doubt it.
Your bigotry is obvious. This has nothing to do with gays or lesbians. The same situation can happen with a heterosexual couple and a sperm donor (or a surrogate, for that matter).
And why are her parents idiots? Because they wanted a child?
"And why are her parents idiots? Because they wanted a child?"
Is this a trick question?
They're idiots because they trusted someone and didn't get a written contract? An unwise choice, yes, and one that many, many people make in all sorts of situations.
This is insanity.
It's right up there with the sperm donar who is being sued by the state for child support because the lesbian couple who wanted the child are now divorced and neither one is financially able to support the child... so the state is going after the male who fathered the child.
Angela LD
it could be worse... The kid could have been adopted by a selfish woman whom feels they have the right to discriminate against someone else because they don't fit their model or beliefs.
screminmimi
I agree. I mean, its like giving a rapist parental rights. Oh wait, that's what some on the right want to have happen.
As far as I am concerned, this is no one's business but the 3 people involved and the child. STAY OUT OF IT.
I don't care about what they believe or what their sexual preferences are. But the judge needs his ass kicked off the bench for not making a decision and sticking to it.
The man in this picture had no rights to the child. He was nothing but a sperm donor. If the judge truly felt he was on a parental level with the couple, he should have made him equally responsible for the financial well being of the child.
To say he is equally a "parent" but not financially responsible at all is nothing but a sexist cop out. He should have been given nothing but the privileges of an "uncle." Now this couple will have to battle with this selfish man over every aspect of this child's upbringing. It's hard enough for two parents to compromise and raise a child, let alone bring in a third party.
On this I agree. To me, if he want's to be listed as a parent, then he is financially responsible for that child. You truly can't have it both ways. To me, this man should have done the HONORABLE thing, and given up his parental rights all together. The attorney for the women should be sued as well. They (in my opinion) did not receive proper legal counsel.
Not entirely correct. This is why we have family courts in the United States of America. If this individual does not fulfill his obligations, (which I believe we both agree) on the financial part, then the parents have every right to pursue legal action. I was raised a child of a divorce early in his childhood. I fully know what its like to be in a family courtroom.
Please read the last two paragraphs on the article. If the couple (who did disagree with the earlier preceding), are trying to do what's right for their daughter, let's let them deal with it. Its none of our business.
What I will say, is it's a bit unorthodox for this kind of scenario, but let's face it, this same scenario could easily happen in the heterosexual community as well.
If he has no parental rights how does that make him an "equal" parent?
Should be glad Gerina does not have a partner who wants in on it.
Pandora's box is wide open now....How many is too many? 10 parents? Goats? Horses? Everyone and anything will be named parents in the future. Corporations next, maybe? Visitation rights should be a fun court case.
The collapse of society is on the way. Can't wait for the lesbians to divorce and they fight over alimony and child support payments....Geesh...what a F'd up world this is turning into.
Jesus Christ! Yes I said it, can you guys come up with any other friggin' word but bigot.
Just because someone doesn't agree with something someone says or does doesn't make them a bigot.
And I agree with other posters.
This is ALL about the parents, not about the child. How in the world do you think Emma is going to feel when she finds out she has two Moms and one Dad and three parents on her birth certificate?
When in fact, she can have only ONE biological Mom and ONE biological Dad, regardless of what the BC says.
Yep - Pandora's box is opening wider and wider and we'll never get it shut again. Next thing you know, Fido will be listed as a second Dad on someone's birth certificate.
My God - when will enough be enough?
It could "easily" happen in a heterosexual situation?
Name me ONE situation where there are two Moms and/or two Dads and/or two Moms and two Dads on ANY heterosexual BC? Just one, come on.
When heterosexuals adopt, the BC is amended to list the adopted parents as the Mom/Dad (and I know, I'm adopted by my stepfather and I have a BC listing HIM as the FATHER, not my actual biological father that WAS on my BC for 6 years prior to the adoption, he was REMOVED from the BC).
WE don't let every Tom, Dick, Harry, Jane, or Sue be on the BC.
All this amending of BCs has come about due to adoption by lesbians/gays and same-sex marriages in certain states. Now kids have 2 daddies (impossible biologically) and 2 mommies and so on and so forth.
God is surely frowning down on us all.
How about you take the rights of the child away from all three people if they view a child as nothing more than merely a piece of property? Heterophobia promotes selfishness and this is the poster child case for such an action. The child needs to be put in a home with a man and a woman that are a married couple and that will not abuse the child. Then again the Florida welfare system is said to be one of the most corrupt ones in the country. Finally, this also proves that homosexuals, in particular, gays and lesbians, will learn to fight one another as soon as they eliminate the competition. You will see this happen all the more as they bully their way to being a protected, exalted, and special protected class or caste in this country. I am not politically correct, incorrect, or neutral, what I am is honest and six or seven millennia of human history is on my side. This is but one of many reasons why you do not want hate speech shown as a form of love and tolerance and the heterophobes (homosexuals) are the most bigoted people on the planet, period.
Thank you "Paws" , as well as 'screminmimi", both of your posts illustrate EXACTLY the point I was making. Only you elaborated better than I.
I knew someone would take issue with my point, because of PC involving homosexuality. That's completely irrelevant. Again, Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Heck, I think Octo'Mom' is the perfect poster child for why...
In some cultures Kimbo Bimbo your family structure would be considered perverse. Your step father had your biological father's name removed from your birth certificate? So if you fell in love with your half sister from your biological father would that not make your relationship legal...though immoral. For someone with your kind of background, considered screwed up in many other cultures where even divorce is rare, with step fathers removing one's biological father's name from one's birth certificates, you sure have a lot of opinions about this case.
For many women, heterosexual or homosexual, who conceive through sperm donors (personal or professional) making a distinction between a sperm donor and a parent are important - in the relationship and legally. The problem is not these women...who were good enough to trust that their verbal negotiation with the sperm donor was sufficient to protect them from any legal wrangling or complication. They were naïve and trusting. That is not a crime Kimbo Bimbo!
The ar--hole in this is the sperm donor, who suddenly changes his mind and decides to be a parent without responsibility. Wow...wanting the cake and then smashing it on other people! Nice sperm donor. Hope the kid did not inherit this creep's gene.
And then the Florida court's, where 63 year old conservative white men are the average, the norm and those in power, is now making decision for this couple about who should be the third wheel because Mr. Hair Dresser cannot keep his words outside or keep his dick inside. Even Chris Christi is an outcaste in that State. He is the moderate one!
Who is the problem here? Not the couple who simply wanted a baby and negotiated with someone they thought was a gentleman. The court should cream this guy for financial support...and see how he screams to be made a sperm donor all over again. Why can't people learn to move on with dignity and fairness over matters like this?
I am not a lesbian...but I do have friends who are and who have had kids. I also know heteros who have gone through sperm donors or sperm banks. This could happen to anyone. What I am learning from your comments is "Don't trust a fuc--- soul in the US! They will all do something crappy, creepy and/or crazy in the future!" Is this the kind of image you want to leave of the US? Uh, uh, uh Mr Kimbo Bimbo Bambo Macho?
Typical, you resort to name calling. And typical that you intepreted my post to fit your version of the universe and how it is wrong unless it is in line with your own view of the world.
I never once said anyone would do anything creepy, crazy or crappy - and never said don't trust anyone--perhaps you're responding to someone else's post - because you are talking about things I didn't even write in mine, are you confused perhaps?
Actually my image of the word is the SAME image that God intended. Adam and Eve, procreation between men and women, marriage of two opposite sexes. Nothing weird and abnormal, but what was designed by him.
And you don't have to agree and I don't give a damn if you agree or not.
But thanks for the reponse!
If the couple were heterosexual and the male partner were infertile and they sought a sperm donor (as many such infertile couples do), the situation would be exactly the same as in the Floriduh case.
But for some unknown reason it seems to bug you a lot more simply because the primary parents are gay.
The issue here is, whose name(s) should be on a birth certificate?
Should the names be the mother and father, or do we get creative?
Seems reasonable for the names to be the mother and father. Biologic. First choice.
Not your best friend.
This poor child. Life is already tough enough on its own, please don't add to it. Selfish grown-ups in this story.
No state lists sperm donors on a birth certificate. What the judge did here is very unusual, but it's probably due to the lack of a contract and the inadequate legal protections in Florida for gay couples.
Yeah, and because the women are idiots. (Hey, I got it!! Let's ask my hair stylist, Mr. Wayne.) Like that woman who found a sperm donor on Craig's List.
Yep, some folks are going to try and erase "marriage between a man and a woman".
I thought something like this would only happen in Cali.
I wonder how many of these folks would be born if he/she did not have "biological parents". Oh shucks, that is for another article.
Poor fella, I feel sorry for him. Guess he doesn't realize that whatever that Judge ordered about childsupport goes out the window in 3 years after the ruling or if there is a substantial change in circumstance at any given time. Whereas they can drag him into court and proceed with the butt screwing he likes so much, except in a different way. On that date there will be no Love butter for lubrication.
ldo
Prove to me that marriage is between a man and a woman? No one is trying to erase it, they are stepping for there CIVIL RIGHTS. You know, that thing we call the Constitution, where is says "We the People". Instead of "we the people" unless you are gay.
Kimbo47
You're god does not make the laws or decide what is right in the civil laws of the United States of America. Please show me where god is mentioned in the Constitution? Show me where Christianity is the national religion? Guess, what.. ITS NOT. How do you feel about a man and woman that cannot procreate? Should we public stone them? This is exactly why Americans are TURNING away from religion, and the TYRANNY that you want to impose.
Sorry but all of your comments are full of bigotry.
I think that as long as all three are in agreement, the solution will work just fine. The only people who rail against this are people who want to impose their life views upon others.
Unless there are THREE DNA strands at work here... there CANNOT be THREE parents......
A birth certificate is not some "social engineering" piece of paper.... it denotes the MALE DNA & the FEMALE DNA involved in the birth of this child......
This judge is stupid of the facts of life
"He will not be expected to provide child support."
What a Morooon -- Bugs Bunny
What it doesn't say is that he will never be required to provide Child Support....Till maybe one of the Mommies loses her job, their house goes into foreclosure, one of them gets sick and has new Medical Expenses....They'll be down to Child Support, lickety-split !! ( No pun intended )....
Hair-Doo guy probably earns a good living.....And friends never have disagreements and stop being friends...Oh Wait, that happens all the time....One bad hair-cut might do it...
I agree with Steve. There are only two people involved in the biology of the child. In this case the sperm donor and the biological mother should be listed. Birth certificates should not be political footballs.
Sperm donors are just that ... donors. There should be no ongoing involvement, by the donor, with the child unless it is specifically spelled out prior to the use of the donated sperm. If the donor now has rights and is listed on the birth certificate as a parent, he needs to pay child support and contribute to health care costs, college tuition expenses, etc. If he wants the privileges of being a parent he must assume the responsibilities as well.
Sorry - don't agree - doesn't make me a bigot - but does make you one when you are not tolerant of views that differ from yours.
And SKREKK - could happen or does happen is two different things. Every case I could find on the internet pertains to homosexual couples, so my original statement stands as is.
And God is not a part of civil situations - you're right. But God made it so that only MEN & WOMEN could biologically procreate and no matter how you try to spin it, change the law, corrupt the BC system, etc., etc., it will remain that ONLY MEN & WOMEN can biologically procreate.
If God indeed created homosexuality like you guys would like to believe, then why can't men+men and women+women biologically procreate? Because it wasn't his intent or wait...I'm sure you will spin some creative, stupid, crap reason why that is or isn't so also, right?
You guys are a piece of work...but you reap what you sow but by then it will be too late - you'll be burnt to a crisp.
Utter nonsense.
A birth certificate generally denotes legal parentage at birth, and DNA is largely irrelevant. In other words it's actually a legal document, not a genealogy document.
For example no paternity test is performed on married fathers to determine if the kid really is his, as married men are legally the presumptive father of any progeny.
Similarly, the adoptive parents of infants frequently and successfully petition a court to change a birth certificate to list their names. While a court won't change the original vital record recorded with the state's vital records department, the data used for generating the birth certificate is changed and affects all subsequently issued birth certificates, as well as the legal rights of the parties listed on the certificate. The legal rights and responsibilities of the parties listed on the old birth certificate are terminated.
The only thing that's odd about this case is that the sperm donor is listed at all, since all 50 states specifically don't do that normally. It's also strange for the judge to do that at all since he could simply grant visitation rights without listing the donor on the birth certificate.
You are actually correct.
Adoptive parents petition the court to put their names on the birth certificate. A mother and a father.
Not the biological parents and then the adoptive parents giving the child 4 total parents.
This kind of stupid mumbo-jumbo has ALL come about due to same-sex couples and states where same-sex marriage is allowed. Never had this problem before, Pandora's box.
The homosexual community wants to twist and rewrite everything to fit their ideal of what is normal to where normal can't even apply anymore.
And they are a VERY SMALL percentage of the overall population, but yet they scream the loudest and we're all tired of hearing their rhetoric, hence the continuous backlash - get a clue people - we don't care what you do in your bedroom - quit shoving it down our throats, its uncouth and disgusting.
I don't shake someone's hand and say hi, I'm a heterosexual, but yet you feel the need to shout it out from the rooftops that you are lesbian or gay every time you open your mouth.
No class.
OK steve - so when it's a DONOR, THEN what does the BC say? It's for LEGAL purposes, not DNA establishment.
Getta you u heada outa you anal orifice
@ DR.MS
Well, if he's the sperm donor...she got half of his genes.
Oh yes, there is absolutely no question about it, "Americans are NUTS". What next? It is bad enough, for the child, to have parents that are what they are, especially if the child does not agree with their line of thinking and living, and now has to deal with the selfish crap from adult idiots.
Shame on the people involved, and shame on an incompetent judge.
Hmmmm, now why do you think the lesbian couple decided to use a gay mans sperm?
Coincidence or social/biologic engineering?
Agree, why should a birth certificate be updated every time a parent changes? Why should we list on the birth certificate, who intends to care for the child, at the moment of the child's birth??!!? Ridiculous!
On the birth certificate, it should list the mother and the father. You know, the two people who made the kid. Who's your daddy? You made a kid? You're on the birth certificate.
Should be only TWO parents..world going wacky with this same sex stuff.
Its the guys sperm and only one lady carried the kid for nine months..that's the real parents...not the other lesbo.
It's nice to note that some people are finally realizing sexuality is NOT a choice!
WOW!!! Talk about a love triangle.
mike, I assume that the other lesbo as you called her probably went to court and adopted the child since she is the legal spouse of the mother. But I do believe there are other legal repercussions to follow if the two women cannot stay together. Interesting thing is that there is no mentioning of whose last name the baby took.
Beth, I believe sexuality is a choice and it has to do with desire. You see...I had the desire for Elizabeth Taylor or Debbie Reynolds when I was young but I settled on my present wife.
I'm fine with that. Sexuality is not a choice. I am repulsed by same sex behavior. I find it disgusting. I do not have a choice in this. I was born thinking that same sex behavior is disgusting.
Or in the enlightened states, a mother and a mother, or a father and a father. In other words, whoever the legal parents happen to be.
No, it happens because the bigoted states still have Jim Crow laws and don't yet treat all people equally under the law.
This sort of thing wouldn't have been a problem in a marriage equality state. There's a recent precedent in Iowa which demonstrates exactly that point, where the court ordered the state to treat the gay parents of a newborn the same as they would straight parents for the purpose of issuing a birth certificate. In other words, the court ordered the state to simply follow the requirements under their existing marriage equality law.
@Shrek,
Equality under the law? Regardless of gender identity, no one has the right to marry anyone of the same sex, under the legal age limit, or a close relative. Everyone has the same right to marry someone of the opposite sex. Spare me! As it pertains to her birth certificate, the girl only has two parents: the biological father and mother.
Think this won't flare up in court if and when the couple breaks up? Think again. Custody cases are already intense enough without a "third" party on the birth certificate.
BS, the birth certificate is just a record of a birth. The original purpose of vital statistics was for tax purposes and for the determination of available military manpower. A birth certificate establishes who you are and gives you access to the rights, privleges and obligation of citizenship (Paraphrased from Desmond Tutu) It has 0 to do with DNA, if it did when a child is adopted, they wouldn't change the birth certificate.
Sounds like the same bigot logic the racists of Virginia used when they said that "everyone had the same right to marry someone of the same race as themselves."
FYI, your side lost that argument too.
The laws, courts and vital records departments in all 50 states disagree with you. If what you said were true no one in their right mind would ever donate eggs or sperm, nor could adoptive parents get the birth certificates of their children corrected.
It's funny how americans are in self destruction mode with the very thing they're fighting to protect-freedom.
So where does it stop? What will your society look like in 30 years? 50 years?
When the full range of consequences shows itself in a generation or two I cant imagine what kind of superficial social structure the americans will have to survive and continue to thrive.
Wake up americans. Your lethal enemy isnt the dirty bombs in the hands of the russians or chinese; its the freedom in the hands of the misfits and the power in the hands of your two-party-dictatorship politicians.
With the trend im watching (and im only 27yrs) i predict next thing will be corporations can be parents. Now thats a twist. A funny one.
Here's how a far more enlightened state than Floriduh handled a similar issue:
Part of the problem in Floriduh is that they lack marriage equality and discriminate against gays in other areas, two-parent same-sex adoption is a relatively new thing for the state and the rest of the law hasn't yet caught up, and the couple rather foolishly lacked a written contract with sperm donor.
But had this case happened in a marriage equality state like Iowa the outcome would have been far simpler - the two women would have been listed as parents, and the sperm donor wouldn't have been listed at all.
Could this article have made me any more nauseous?
@Kimbo .. of course this could have happened in a heterosexual situation. Imagine a case where the male was infertile and he and his wife turned to a friend to provide sperm. They fail to get a contract. Later, the sperm donor sues. Has it happened before? No, probably not. But, then the situation discussed in this article had not happened before, either.
@Skrekk .. it is so easy to refute the claim that "everyone is free to marry someone of the opposite sex, so there's no discrimination" that you have to wonder why one bothers to make it. Of course, people still use the "marriage is only for procreation" argument, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Generally speaking the biological and social parents were the same but that ideal is not always true. Adoption, divorce, gay marriage and a host of other circumstances muddy the water. It might be a good idea to amend the traditional birth certificate to include both biological and social parents where possible. It would better reflect reality.
What ever
Sorry folks. We can't pull the wool of political correctness over our eyes when it comes to biology. It is physiologically impossible that THREE people of either/or sex can be the parents of one child. Let's confuse the kid even more than it will already be having two mothers....
Thanks for having a brain, Jenny. By the way, you're cute if that is really you in your avatar.
I would make a terrible judge by American standards; would have put two names on the birth certificate, the Mother that gave birth & the male that donated the sperm.
I'm surprised the didn't try to have the homosexual donor's boyfriend/life-mate on the birth certificate as well . . . . . . . . .
Poor kid, three mothers and no father.
It's funny how americans are in self destruction mode with the very thing they're fighting to protect-freedom.
So where does it stop? What will your society look like in 30 years? 50 years?
When the full range of consequences shows itself in a generation or two I cant imagine what kind of superficial social structure the americans will have to survive and continue to thrive.
Wake up americans. Your lethal enemy isnt the dirty bombs in the hands of the russians or chinese; its the freedom in the hands of the misfits and the power in the hands of your two-party-dictatorship politicians.
With the trend im watching (and im only 27yrs) i predict next thing will be corporations can be parents. Now thats a twist. A funny one.
Marriage of threesomes? whats next, pedophelia OK, marriage to animals, Satan takes another card off the deck of modesty and morality. Sad for the children, science and Christ are in agreement, children do the best in a household of one Male father and one Female mother.
I wonder if they all work for the same Circus? Now this poor baby has to grow up being part of a freak show.
Yes. She could have been adopted by a heterosexually married couple who live in a world where the divorce rate is at 53%. Oh wait, my bad, a child from a broken home isn't subjected to 'the freak' show as you call it.
Isn't god against divorce? Maybe we can have a public stoning
And do you know how high the rate is of same-sex couples staying together (married or not) - pretty damn low from what I've read.
They are not role models for staying together in a committed relationship either.
When the baby reaches age of 18, she will probably bolt from that household, if she's able to stay sane until then.
Kimbo47
You just proved MY POINT. :).
You don't have a point except in that perverted world you call home.
I agree with Angela LD and Paws! I'm a big believer in traditional marriages and parenting and am not against social partnerships or unions between gays and lesbians! But this story is crazy and yet another sign the apocalypse is upon us! Poor child, it doesn't look like its welfare was a material fact in the judges wacked decision!
kimbo - there must be a lot of room in your cranium with all the evidence of miniscule grey matter you are demonstrating. Wasted excess volume...
It's official. Our country is now in a very large HandBasket moving at a high rate of speed.
Yes.... 1 case like this in 300 million...Just think what's going to happen when gays/lesbians can be legally married!!!
<sarcasm>
Serious question, if this was a heterosexual couple, would you feel the same way?
Yes, ridiculous is ridiculous
Heterosexuals don't do this kind of crap.
They don't list 20+ people on the birth certificate - because guess what - it is designed that heterosexual couples can mate and have children.
If God truly made homosexuals, then why didn't he give women the ability to mate with each other and men the ability to do the same?
Because it wasn't his intent...that's why.
Except, as people have clearly illustrated, that only works if both hetero partners are fertile. otherwise, you get a man/woman/sperm donor or man/woman/surrogate issue going. if a surrogate carries a child that is not biologically hers and she decides to fight for custody, is that baby hers? or if a sperm donor decides to claim parental rights, does that trump the parental rights of the husband who will be raising the child? it's not black and white, and your religion doesn't get to dictate the laws of the land or how others live their lives. everything is not strictly about procreation, and in this weird case, biology trumped legality only because of unfair and unequal laws.
Kimbo47
They don't? You mean a heterosexual couple has never faced a similar circumstances, where a sperm or egg donor has changed their mind? LOL. Yeah, that has NEVER happened not even once.
20+ on a BC, it was 3!!! Oh yes, what happens when a man and a woman cannot procreate. Did god make a mistake there too? Leave GOD out of it, he does not make the civil rights for the United States of America. Its clear you don't like lesbians/gays, and that's fine, but what gives you the right to decide what's correct/legal for someone else. Oh wait, you don't
AZSkye - It really comes down to what state the birth takes place in. My wife was a surrogate for friends of ours and even though she was just an incubator she was considered the mother on the birth certificate and the husband of our friends was the father. It all happened in Virginia but if we were in Maryland it would be different. Our friends went thru formal adoption for the wife to be added as a legal parent. Heaven help you if you live in Louisiana. Completely different there.
This isnt about homosexual couples vs heterosexual couples. This is about listing 3 people on a birth certificate which is insane and stupid.
Oh wait, I must be a bigot and closed minded. Lets redefine the birth certificate like we are doing with marriage to include the free for all anything goes as long as it doesnt affect you.
Better yet, I like my dog since he is loyal and doesnt talk back to me. Why cant I marry my dog and list him on my kids birth certificate? That makes about as much sense as what is going on here.
Don't and proud of it!
don't what? Don't think? That's a GIVEN.
what is the purpose of a BC? Not as offered to state DNA origin (what do you do abut surrogates? - another situation with 3) What about sperm donor (immaterial about the genders of the couple but for there to be a donor, there has to be AT LEAST 1 MALE and AT LEAST 1 FEMALE involved. the BC just documents "status". I can see a possibility of 4 names where a donor egg is fertilized with donor sperm and implanted into the female member of a couple - with the additional member of the couple "just along for the ride")
THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE - IT'S BIOLOGY, NOT RELIGIOUS IDIOCY
Fork - In those other cases, all of which happen all the time, the birth certificate is still filled in with the biological names of the male and female whose DNA the child now carries. Now, I am not a legal expert by any means, but I've never heard of three adults listed on a birth certificate. If someone is trying to trace family history one day (especially for medical reasons) how are they going to know which female it is?
I think the reason this concerns me is that one of the foundations of parenthood (for right or wrong) is that the biological parent has the most rights, because the child is their offspring. I would think an action like that really screws with that foundation...
Well little Emma is his little squirt.
A lesbian couple and a gay man --- parents -- ? NOT
and you want to know why our world is is decline.
If it were a straight man/woman and a donating/parent the issue at debate is still the same... doesn't matter at all the sexual orientation of the adults in question.
I would think you would actually approve as the child would have both male and female role models as parents plus-one. Sounds like a win-win
Actually it does - because there has been no judge that has approved a heterosexual birth certificate to include more than one set of parents, even in surrogacy cases unless the parents agreed to it ahead of time.
Show me how many BCs of heterosexual couples you can find that list three or more parents...come on, show me.
I just did a quick google on the subject and EVERY SINGLE CASE involved homosexuals...every single one, including the one in Canada - I rest my case.
There are very few cases involving more than two parties on a birth certificate at all. This case in Floriduh only exists because Floriduh law doesn't have marriage equality and doesn't adequately protect the rights of same-sex couples or the rights of their children.
However, third-parent adoption is increasingly common, and various states are moving to codify legal protections for those families. And there certainly are heterosexual third-parent situations:
Is this Bush's fault too?
No this would be Obama's fault too. Everything that has happened since the world began is Obama's fault right?
<Sarcasm>
did her bush get involved somehow?
I dont get why he can't take credit for his part of parenting this little girl. Eventually she's going to have questions of who her father is, so why lie about it to her and just let him do his part as a father and take credit for it.
I agree he should get "credit" for it, especially because the kid could have medical issues of a genetic origin, so it's important to know where your DNA came from. But the one woman who is not biologically responsible for the kid being here - there is no reason to list her on the birth certificate.
I am very happy for all involved. This child will have two loving parents and will be able to know where she came from as well, instead of some dark secret.
How in the hell do you know that they will be loving parents? I sincerely hope they will be, but no one has the first damn clue as to what the future holds.
This kid should be really intereting. 2 moms 1 dad and everyone thinking they are special.
Where does that leave this child?
Amazing! In this backwater, armpit state, a judge actually did something right!
My best wishes to all, for a long and happy life. (and a special wow, I'm amazed that a Florida judge did this.
I'm not from Florida, but Florida is not a backwater, armpit state any more than any other state. Just because you personally don't fit in, doesn't mean every other Floridian is wrong.
Zheng - ihadenuff doesn't have a clue what a legal mess this may create, or how truly stupid the ruling is on so many levels to begin with.
This whole situation is a total mockery of what parenting should be,...obviously, but instead of admitting the obvious, extreme liberals and homosexual advocates just try to to redefine everything or use the worst possible situation from a heterosexual/biological relationship as a comparison. I agree with the previous commentator. Our world, our nation, and the future of the American family really are in deeeep trouble.
Agreed!!!
Oh I see... so its only because this is a lesbian couple that is a mockery of what parenting should be? Yes, the heterosexual community NEVER has similar situations like this. Perhaps we shouldn't listen to the extreme right who tell us that forcing 14 year old raped girls to drop out of school, have a rapist child, offer her no financial support, and then give parental rights is the right way to go. Of course, that 53% divorce rate in the heterosexual community is something to be proud of too.
Its sad how blinded people are by someone's sexual orientation in this country. The country is on the RIGHT path to ensuring all people are entitled to their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Or did i somehow miss the part where 'we the people' only applies to heterosexual americans.
This is same scenario could happen in the heterosexual world, but in that case, I doubt you would call it 'mockery' of what parenting should be.
Nope ;-)
This situation would MOST DEFINITELY be a mockery of parenting, and totally idiotic in any situation,...obviously.
You've got some serious beef against people on the so called "Right" huh,...wow! It's also interesting that you kind of just proved my point. Instead of speaking about what the ideal parenting situation would/should be, the "Gold Standard," or what we as a society should strive for, you compare convoluted homosexual parenting situations to the worst case heterosexual relationships. That's not exactly a high bar is it, but it's apparently what you want our society to use a benchmark. You also cloud the discussion by bringing up all of these so called policies that the right is supposedly pushing. I never said that I supported those, so why are you heaping that on my head.
The fact that you and so many other people use the cover of "the pursuit of happiness and individual freedoms is also really annoying to me. You forget that although most things are lawful, not all things are profitable,...to an individual or a society. Instead of constantly, and selfishly think about me, myself, and I. You should start asking, is this profitable, is it rooted in truth, or is it just okay, because I said so, and it makes me happy. It's almost as if we've forgottent that there are other considerations besides self.
MacLethal546,So what do you think that parenting is all about?From the looks of our society I'd say that parents today aren't doing such a great job as they are trying to be their children's friends.You have judged these three total strangers parenting skills without even knowing them.
MacLethal546
No, what you did, was compare one situation with a lesbian couple to the "BEST" case scenario of what parenting should be. Its VERY clear, that you don't feel the exact same way if this would have happened (and has HAPPENED) in the heterosexual world. Since you choose to compare this 1 situation and called it a MOCKERY of parenting, I was glad to reference another 1 situation of the direct opposite for the same mockery.
The 'pursuit of happiness' Is an AMERICAN Ideal. Everyone is entitled to have that same right, although it seems you don't believe that to be accurate. When it's called out, you think more selfishly of yourself and your beliefs (and your comment is QUITE clear on that angle), then what could be right for someone else, because it doesn't fit 'your mold'.
But we do know a little something about them, don't we?
We know they all three have gender issues. And we know they aren't mature enough to reach agreement without resorting to the judicial system.
I'd put money on the child having a challenging future.
patter123
Being gay/lesbian is not a gender issue. Are heterosexuals immature if they cannot reach agreement without resorting to the judicial system? Never ever hear of custody battles when a heterosexual married couple divorces.
I'd put money on a child having a challenging future, WHEN this same situation happens in a heterosexual situation.
Of course it's a gender issue. I've read their literature. :)
Seriously, if its not a gender issue, how do you explain male homosexuals camping women, or female homosexuals who bind their breasts and wear men's clothing? If it weren't a gender issue, you have a male homosexual who would be turned off by another man who dressed and behaved like a woman, and lesbians who wanted something pretty and feminine in bed. Come on, think it through a little bit.
Yes, heterosexuals are immature when they can't reach a personal agreement without the judicial system. I never said immaturity is a gender issue, or that these people are immature BECAUSE they are homosexual. You're projecting your thoughts onto me. Read what I write, not what you want me to have written.
I have nothing against homosexuality, but it IS a VERY alternative lifestyle. It would be a challenge for a child to have two mommies rather than a mom and dad in any society, including ours. Add people squabbling over the child, and it's going to be doubly challenging.
If you can't see that, I believe you are in deep denial.
Really? I didn't know that any particular sexual orientation was a "lifestyle" of any sort.
Sounds like you've swallowed a load of bigoted and moronic nonsense.
Now that we can have three parents, can we have six? Think of the birthday presents she will get.
Now this is a queer story
This very well could be the new normal. How many kids are born that technically have two parents, but the kid never, ever sees one of them because they refuse to man up to being a parent. If these parents are so willing to fight for their right to parent, then this child is in far better hands with three parents, than any child is with two parents and one is missing in the action of being a parent. Just because you can have sex, certainly does not mean you can be a parent. These people seem more vested in the cause than a lot of parents. I think this is very right.
So they did this for the child? Not themselves, yeah right.
The child will be totally thrilled to find out they have three listed parents on their birth certificate - when biologically they really only have two - yep, I'm sure Emma will turn out just fine (sarcasm).
How many kids are born that technically have two parents, but the kid never, ever sees one of them because they refuse to man up to being a parent.
Or woman up for that matter as well.
Kimbo,
The reason Emma may have a difficult childhood has nothing to do with her parents and everything to do with hateful bigots like you. Your judgement of her and her parents is what will provide obstacles in her life. She has 3 parents that want to be in her life. As long as those parents are safe and appropriate, she is doing better than most kids. Of course you don't believe that gay parents are "appropriate" because your god told you so. Like a coward you hide behind your god.
Everyday I deal with abused and neglected children. The sexual orientationn of the parents has never, ever been a determining or contributing factor to the abuse or neglect of a child. The fact that you believe that homosexuals cannot parent children safely and effectively say volumes about the hate in your heart.
Birth certificates are amended all the time in cases of adoption. They are legal statements of parental responsibility. They do not address biology or even societal norms.
Homosexuals are gaining acceptance around the world. If that scares you and your fragile existence perhaps you should move to Iran where they share your beliefs. You might have to convert to Islam, but it sounds like you embrace some of their tenets anyway.
Whatever floats your boat. Normal left this country years ago.
Good post Kimbo47. The gay people will still call you a homophobe, a bigot, a racist and more because you chose to disagree with their plans. Soon, the next step will be more gay characters on the TV during prime time. Shows with the main characters which could be two men or two woman together kissing, holding hands in a airport or naked in bed. You will have no say in the matter even though maybe only 4% of the USA are gay and fewer than they think agree with their national push to create themselves as a acceptable, without prejudice, alternate lifestyle in a nation of hybrid religions, opinions, loyalties, education and income levels. Bottom line is it isn't going to happen and they will get push-back. The military can threaten, punish and give discharges but for the most part mainstream America cannot. We see what has happened in national elections and any talk of gun control. Okay everyone involved in the 2,500 plus comment post's we see regularly here, time to end this bickering because a law has been passed and you have to obey.
I don't care what two (or more) consenting ADULTS do, but when you drag kids into it, that's when I have a problem.
Frankly, I could care less about seeing gay people on TV or in the streets. I grew up surrounded by a large and vocal gay community. I live in Long Beach, we have a HUGE (and profitable for the city) Gay Pride Parade every year. I've attended a few, and had a great time. Check some of the videos out on Youtube. I watch Lost Girl, a show on SyFy who's main character is a bisexual Succubus and it's not shy about showing sexual situations (gay, straight or otherwise) and lots and lots of skin.
I think we need to draw the line somewhere, and putting multiple parents on a birth certificate (especially when one only intended to be a donor), is beyond the pale.
Next scheme,;under ,Obama; ..as umpire; backing support and authorize, MORE ILLEGAL MIGRANT, TO COME TO , USA; AS ;... guy and lesbians population, TO BECAME THE NEW; USA, ANTIMORAL; GENERATION; NATION WIDE////
Next scheme,;under ,Obama; ..as umpire; backing support and authorize, MORE ILLEGAL MIGRANT, TO COME TO , USA; AS ;... guy and lesbians population, TO BECAME THE NEW; USA, ANTIMORAL; GENERATION; NATION WIDE////
With many children being raised by single parents today,this young girl will have the benefit of three parents.I'd say that she is off to a great start in life having three adults who want to raise her and be in her life.I think the judge used common sense and did the right thing.
So using your logic, then I guess it wouldn't be a problem when the sperm donor gets a husband or a wife and he or she wants to be the parent too?
Or how about the clerk at the 7-11 on the corner?
What if 10 people want to love her and be her parents, is that a problem too? Not according to you.
We in this country have lost the ability to apply simple common sense anymore.
It's all about what WE WANT and GRATIFICATION, the hell with morals, common sense, religion, God's plan, just to hell with it all.
All this debauchary will end the world soon, just like it did in the past. We are heading to a point where God will have no choice but to come down and get rid of us all (again) and start over.
A shame that a small portion of the country (and yes homosexuals are a SMALL portion), and the criminals, drug addicts, child molesters, rapists, etc., are going to bring down us all. And everyone of you are going to hell, hope you like the heat!
Without knowing the state of mind of these "parents" you cannot necessarily claim this unfortunate child will benefit. Should be interesting if she ever tries to record her "family tree."
You should me where I am required to follow god's laws in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, and then we'll discuss it. It's a shame that a small portion of religious nutjobs feel they have the right to force their beliefs on other people. Save the book of Christian fairy tales for where it belongs, in your church and NOT in the government.
You don't have to follow God's laws at all.
And you will suffer for it for eternity.
You want to be that stupid, dumb and ignorant - go right ahead - I and others won't be joining you.
But you go ahead in that fairy tale world of yours where there is no God, too bad it will be too late when you find out that you were DEAD WRONG.
And I'm not a religious nutjob - I don't even go to church, but I believe do belive in God.
And I'm not trying to force my beliefs on anyone. If God wanted men+men and women+women to be able to procreate and have actual sex as it is defined, then he would have made it so that it could happen normally - wouldn't have to take going into places that are not designed for it, or using toys, apparatus' etc. It's just plain disgusting actually.
But perverts usually are.
gee kimbo - your fixation of big daddy, junior and the spook is clouding your BRAIN (what of it there is) What would be your reaction IF it were a donor and a hetero couple? Who gets to be "father"? The infertile male married to the woman? PLUS - EXACTLY WHY DO YOU CARE? In the closet and afraid to come out?
Uh.....your words and opinions scream otherwise!
It's about time - I am an athiest, but even I knwo that God is all over the Constitution of the United States. All the men that wrote that thing were Chrsitian, which meant that their moral code, value systems, everything that they were was influenced at least in part by Christianity. It is a Christian document, just not overtly so. This does not mean that Christianity should be given special treatment in the courts or in law. The Founding Fathers intended that the government stay out of any religion, regardless of which one. But those documents have at least one root in Christianity, simply because of who wrote them...
Given that you're flat wrong, maybe you should actually read it sometime? If you're an atheist you're a very poorly informed one. And just an FYI, an atheist wouldn't likely capitalize the word "god."
Some were, some weren't. But note that even for those that were Christian they deliberately crafted a secular document that makes no mention of any imaginary friends. In fact, the ONLY mention of religion in the original constitution is a prohibitive one in Article VI.
From John Adams (a Unitarian), in his publication "A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America," It will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had any interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the inspiration of heaven, any more than those at work upon ships or houses, or labouring in merchandize or agriculture: it will for ever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses.
Actually it's quite plainly a product of the Enlightenment and English Common Law, and one directly opposed to the sharia laws and theocratic values of the Christian cults of the era.
Stupid is as stupid does.....THREE times. WAIT, FOUR times, count the judge in on this.
A feast for the lawyers, I see a brand-new division of domestic relations opening up.
I hope the responsibility is laid on this donor guy also. He needs to be paying child support. If the two women ever part ways, than all three need to pay child support.
This is in no way, shape or form this childs problem, nor is it the states to pick up the tab if something goes south in the relationship!!
Black Sheep, there was a similar incident not too long ago, whereby this lesbian couple split up and the one left with the child could no longer afford to care for the "sperm donor" baby they had. She attempted to get welfare, they asked who the daddy was, and the state went after him, and I believe he's paying child support for a sperm donated child, he wanted NO INTEREST IN, nor claim to! Can you imagine how angry this man is? Should the worm turn in this case, at least the donor father won't mind ..... I hope!
Sure wish I could remember where this other donor incident took place. I believe it was only last month.
Erased. Comment posted twice in error.
It happened in Kansas
Earthie - that has happened in many states. There was a guy in CA who donated his sperm a few years ago and now he is paying child support. Doesn't matter whether the man is straight or gay either. Which is why I am wondering how the guy in this story gut such special treatment...
This is so incredibly stupid! Nobody has any sense these days!
Poor fella, I feel sorry for him. Guess he doesn't realize that whatever that Judge ordered about childsupport goes out the window in 3 years after the ruling or if there is a substantial change in circumstance at any given time. Whereas they can drag him into court and proceed with the butt screwing he likes so much, except in a different way. On that date there will be no Love butter for lubrication. Plus it's not just one mad woman he has to battle in court, it'll be 2....