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    Two Women Sue to Block Michigan's Ban on Adoption by Unmarried Couples

    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    Two women from Hazel Park, Mich., filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging the state's ban against allowing unmarried couples to adopt children, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Detroit.

    Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer live together and have individually adopted three children. The pair has said they sued because they would like to be able to adopt their children together, the same as a married couple.

    Here is some information regarding the lawsuit and Michigan's laws concerning adoption.

    * Michigan has an amendment to the state's constitution that prohibits same-sex couples from marrying. A separate statute bans unmarried couples from jointly adopting a child.

    * A single person and married couples can adopt a child.

    * Rowse has adopted two boys, while DeBoer adopted a girl. They are seeking the right to legally adopt each other's children.

    * The lawsuit specifically names Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette as defendants, according to Michigan Radio. DeBoer and Rowse are seeking to block Snyder, Schuette and state judges from enforcing the ban on adoption by unmarried couples.

    * The lawsuit alleges the ban violates the pair's civil rights under the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution, according to the Detroit News.

    * It also alleges that not allowing unmarried couples to adopt each other's children costs the children many benefits, including legal, financial, emotional, social and medical support, according to the Detroit Free Press.

    * The pair has also said that being able to adopt each other's children offers them protection and security in case of the death or incapacitation of the other parent.

    * The governor and the attorney general have said the lawsuit should be directed to the legislature. Neither Snyder nor Schuette have the power to change the state's constitution or the law regarding adoption by unmarried couples.

    Vanessa Evans is a musician and freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in politics and public issues.

     

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