The California Supreme Court ruled this week that children born to same-sex couples must be treated equally to other children and thus have a legally protected relationship to both partners.

On August 22nd, 2005, the California State Supreme Court issued opinions in three cases that involved the legal status of children born to same- sex parents. The three cases are: Elisa B. v. Superior Court, K.M. v. E.G., and Kristine H. v. Lisa R.

In all three cases, the Court ruled that when a couple deliberately brings a child into the world through the use of assisted reproduction, both partners are legal parents, regardless of their gender or marital status. The California Supreme Court is the first state Supreme Court to reach this issue, and its holding in these three cases will likely influence courts in other states.

National Center for Lesbian Rights | NCLR's Press Statement | Lambda Legal website | We 2 Have Parental Rights