Gay Parents Battle Virginia Adoption Rules


(Richmond, Virginia) Three same-sex couples denied birth certificates for their adoptive children are appealing to state Supreme Court.

The issue is co-adoption legal in some states but illegal in Virginia. Although it permits single gays and lesbians to adopt, Virginia does not recognize same-sex unions.

While the children were adopted in Virginia, they now live with their parents outside the state. When the parents attempted to get new birth certificates showing the names of the new same-sex parents the Virginia Department of Vital Records refused.

A Richmond judge upheld the Department's right to refuse to issue new birth certificates.

Circuit Judge Randall G. Johnson ruled that requiring the state to issue new birth certificates with the names of the children's adoptive parents instead of their birth parents conflicts with Virginia's policy prohibiting joint adoption by unmarried couples.