SPENCER — Gay and lesbian Hoosier families are relieved the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case from Indiana AG Curtis Hill. Hill was looking to reverse a lower court decision that allowed both parents in same-sex couples to be listed on their child's birth certificate.
Jonathan Balash says there are a lot of emotions when the government debates the rights of his family.
"It's tough not feeling like our government is truly being inclusive of us even though we are a legally recognized couple," Balash said.
Balash and his husband Jacob have been together for almost twenty years. Their son Truman is eight-years-old. Balash tells WRTV, it makes sense for both of them to be listed as parents on all their son's official documents.
"It comes down to equal rights. For heterosexual, married couples, there's a presumption of parentage that is to be put on the birth certificate. That same presumption should exist for legally married same-sex couples," Balash said.
While there was frustration the birth certificate case was brought up again, Balash says he was encouraged by the court's call to stick with precedent.
"The Supreme Court has already expressed an opinion on birth certificates. They did in one of the earlier marriage decisions," Balash said. "I'm thrilled, surprised, and absolutely pleased the Supreme Court came back so quickly, rejecting to look at this."
Despite the stance by the Supreme Court, many gay and lesbians Hoosiers have had or are looking into second-parent adoptions for that added bit of security if similar cases are brought up and decided differently.
