News (USA)

Adoption scheduled for kids of couple in gay marriage suit

Adoption scheduled for kids of couple in gay marriage suit
Hazel Park nurses April DeBoer, left and Jayne Rowse, kiss 2-year-old Rylee DeBoer-Rowse during Michigan Adoption Day at the Oakland County Court House in Pontiac, Mich., Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. The Detroit-area nurses, who are challenging Michigan's ban on gay marriage, finalized their adoption of Rylee, their fourth adopted child.
Hazel Park nurses April DeBoer, left and Jayne Rowse, kiss 2-year-old Rylee DeBoer-Rowse during Michigan Adoption Day at the Oakland County Court House in Pontiac, Mich., Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. The Detroit-area nurses, who are challenging Michigan’s ban on gay marriage, finalized their adoption of Rylee, their fourth adopted child. Mandi Wright, AP

PONTIAC, Mich. — Formal adoption of children by a same-sex couple who challenged Michigan’s ban on gay marriage will be held in Oakland County Circuit Court.

Attorney Dana Nessel, who represented Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer, says in an email that the adoption hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5 in Pontiac.

The couple is raising four children at their Hazel Park home. They sued the state in 2012, challenging Michigan’s ban on gay marriage and restrictions on joint adoption because same-sex couples couldn’t marry in Michigan.

Nessel describes the adoptions as “the last portion of April and Jayne’s legal odyssey.”

Federal Judge Bernard Friedman overturned the state’s gay marriage ban in 2014. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court said same-sex couples have a right to marry.

Rowse and DeBoer married in August.

© 2015, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

New York Fire Department releases “It Gets Better” video

Previous article

Kim Davis’ lawyers say altered marriage licenses are valid

Next article