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Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			FOR MORE INFORMATION
Sept. 10, 1993				MARY L BONAUTO
Boston, MA				JANICE H. PLATNER
					(617) 426-1350

	GLAD WINS LANDMARK SECOND PARENT ADOPTION CASE
	BEFORE MASSACHUSETTS SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT

	In two landmark cases, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
today approved of second parent adoptions for unmarried persons.  The
ruling allows an unmarried partner of a child's biological parent to adopt
the child and become its second parent without the biological parent
giving up his or her rights.

	Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) represented two women,
Ellen W. and Maureen B., who had been denied permission to file a joint
adoption petition by the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court.  Ellen
and Maureen, both attorneys, have been a committed couple for over
thirteen years and together decided to have a child several years ago.  In
1989, Maureen gave birth to their daughter Kate, whom Maureen and Ellen
have jointly cherished, raised and supported ever since.  The Court's
ruling in <<In Re Adoption of K.W.B.>> allows the adoption petition to go
forward.  While the only issue remaining is whether the adoption is in the
best interests of Maureen and Ellen's daughter, an adoption agency has
already completed a home study and recommended the adoption.

	Mary L. Bonauto, the GLAD attorney who represented Ellen and
Maureen, stated of the Court's ruling: "This is an enormous break through
for children of lesbian and gay families.  There is no doubt that the
child benefits enormously from the emotional security of knowing she has
two legal parents.  There are also numerous financial benefits for her
from having two legal parents.  The Court's ruling affirms that children
should not be penalized because some people do not approve of their
parents' relationship."

	In a case raising the same issues and which was decided on the
same day, the Court reviewed an order of the Middlesex County Probate and
Family Court granting a petition of two women physicians to adopt their
daughter.  The Court's ruling today allows that adoption to take effect.
GLAD submitted an amicus brief in that case on behalf of itself and
several other gay and lesbian legal organizations.

	GLAD, a non-profit law firm founded in 1978 celebrating its 15th
anniversary, represents gay men and lesbians and people with HIV infection
in precedent setting cases throughout New England.