No parental rights for woman at end of same-sex relationship

DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan appeals court says a woman has no parental rights to a child born during a longsame-sex relationship but before gay marriage became legal in 2015.

The court overturned decisions by a Washtenaw County judge, who had granted parenting time to Michelle Lake.

Lake and Kerri Putnam ended a 13-year relationship in 2014. During that time, Putnam gave birth to a boy, who's now 8.

Lake and Putnam couldn't marry, and Michigan didn't allow same-sex couples to jointly adopt children. But Lake says she should benefit from changes in the law and be allowed to raise the child, even if the couple's relationship is over.

The appeals court, however, says Michigan law is clear: Lake has no rights because the boy was not born during a marriage.

ED WHITE, Associated Press. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Gayly - 7/6/2016 @ 11:43 a.m. CDT