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LGBT Parenting
Just a small victory in the fight for equality in Michigan...
My wife and I married in October 2011 in front of our family and friends. Although it wasn't legal (and still is not legal) in Michigan, we signed POA and Living Wills so we were protected as best we could be.
Our families have accepted our marriage and we feel very fortunate. Unfortunately, I can't take her insurance or anything like that, but we decided that we would try to take a step to further our commitment and so we filed a petition to change my last name to hers. After a few months of waiting and way too much money (considering it isn't required for straight marriages), we went in front of the Judge today and she approved the petition! I'm elated. Knowing that she could have denied the petition for any reason (even if it was because she was homophobic) was scary and I'm glad it didn't happen. The Judge let me explain why and when I did explain, she smiled and granted the petition.
Just a small victory and one more way to make our lives a bit more normal!
Married my soulmate on 10.1.11; One furbaby, Emma the cat; Madly in love and
Just starting our journey on the TTC path!
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Re: Just a small victory in the fight for equality in Michigan...
My wife and I married in Mass bc we couldn't in California. The other day while fillig out her new employee info she turned to me and said, are we married or not? It sucks not to know if you are married state by state.
Tomorrow we are registering as domestic partners which grants us significant rights in California. I met with a lawyer and he explained that second parent adoption is fairly easy.
Yay for counting small victories!
TTC with RE since March 2012
3 missed O's, 6 IUIs = 1 BFP then 8 w M/C, 5 BFNs
(2 unmedicated IUIs, 2 clomid IUI, 2 femara IUI)
Shared maternity/partner IVF, transfer #1 BFP!
EDD 11/28/13
That is awesome!!
Congrats on the Victory!
I hope to do the same in Ohio, and hopefully my judge is as lovely as yours was!
Congratulations!!
My wife and I live in Ohio, but went to New York and got married. We were actually surprised how easy it was to change our names. We just took our marriage license to the BMV and Social Security office and changed our names. We obviously don't have the same rights as a straight couple, but it made a huge difference to us to share the same name. We are also fortunate that she works for a company that has domestic partners, so I am able to be on her health insurance. We really appreciate the small benefits that we have because we know that not everyone else has, but we also have a long way to go!
This is awesome! Congrats ladies!
I will be changing (hyphenating) my last name when we do our second parent adoption. I was originally going to file when we got pregnant to the boys had the correct last name at birth but the cost difference between filing now and filing with the second parent adoption cost was was huge. We will file our petition at the end of Feb! So exciting.
06/12 - BFP!!!!
Beta #1 15dpo - 256
Beta #2 18dpo - 1097
6wk U/S on 07/02 ~ TWINS!!!
EDD 02/21/13
09/10/12 Found out it's two Boys!!!! Sam and Jake
Jacob and Samuel born 1/29/13 at 36 weeks.
I wish we had the ability to share benefits. She works for the State as a firefighter and isn't allowed to put me on her insurance. As it stands, I don't currently have insurance (I work from home as an attorney, part-time) so we have to figure that out before we start TTC in the next 6 months or so.
Congrats on the small victories!