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Two Kellys raising their baby as loving, if not legal, parents

Kelly Noe and Kelly McCracken say they give their baby daughter a lot of love. They want the nation's highest court to give them more legal status.
By DAN SEWELL | Associated Press · Updated on April 18, 2015
Two Kellys raising their baby as loving, if not legal, parents
Kelly Noe, left, and her spouse, Kelly McCracken, along with their daughter, Ruby Noe-McCracken, are Ohio plaintiffs in a same-sex marriage case to be argued before the Supreme Court in late April. Noe and McCracken say they give their baby daughter a lot of love. Now, they want the nation’s highest court to give them more legal status.
Kelly Noe, left, and her spouse, Kelly McCracken, along with their daughter, Ruby Noe-McCracken, are Ohio plaintiffs in a same-sex marriage case to be argued before the Supreme Court in late April. Noe and McCracken say they give their baby daughter a lot of love. Now, they want the nation’s highest court to give them more legal status. Gary Landers, AP

This article is one in a series showcasing the families who are plaintiffs in the marriage equality cases that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on April 28. Read more here.

CINCINNATI — Kelly Noe and Kelly McCracken say they give their baby daughter a lot of love. They want the nation’s highest court to give them more legal status.

The 32-year-olds have been a couple since 2009 and were married in 2011 in Massachusetts. Noe gave birth to Ruby 10 months ago.

“All we do is love Ruby to pieces, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s all a child needs, is to be brought up with love,” said McCracken. “So I think we’re doing a pretty good job.”

But they don’t want Ruby as she grows up to face issues stemming from the lack of legal recognition of her parents’ marriage.

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Neither Kentucky, the state where they live, nor neighboring Ohio, where both work, recognizes same-sex marriage, listing only one parent on birth certificates. The family is among those from four states suing for marriage rights.

“We don’t want Ruby to grow up and feel like her family is so different,” said McCracken, a musician who works for a small business.

Noe, a Cincinnati children’s hospital employee, is confident Ruby will flourish, regardless.

“I feel like she’s going to be pretty strong,” Noe said. “She’ll be able to deal with things good and bad when they come her way.”

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