Is same sex marriage legal in louisiana
Marriage Equality Around the World
The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the world. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of community, national and regional advocates and verb tools, resources, and lessons learned to empower movements for marriage equality.
Current State of Marriage Equality
There are currently 38 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.
These countries have legalized marriage equality through both legislation and court decisions.
Countries that Legalized Marriage Equality in
Liechtenstein: On May 16, , Liechtenstein's gove
There’s no Place Like Home: Identical Sex Marriage and Divorce in Louisiana
Gay and lesbian couples who were legally married in Delaware or Minnesota may feel enjoy strangers in a strange land in Louisiana. Although New Orleans has a vibrant gay and lesbian community and Baton Rouge’s “gay-friendly” ranking has increased to 22 points out of a possible in the Human Rights Campaign’s third annual Municipal Equality Index, neither city’s courts provide access to divorcing same sex spouses. The lack of access is due to Louisiana’s definition of marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman.
Divorce and its related proceedings such as spousal aid and the use and division of community property are derivatives of marriage. Without marriage, there are no such remedies. What can a gay or lesbian couple do if they were legally married elsewhere but now wish to be divorced in Louisiana? There is no transparent answer to this question, at least for now. It may be of some comfort to such couples that as far as Louisiana courts are concerned, their marriage is a nullity ab initio (from
How a Louisiana law is derailing adoptions for some lesbian couples
When Nikki Dennis’ wife, Jessica Dennis, gave birth to a healthy baby boy last May, she was right next to her in the Ouachita Parish delivery room, holding her hand.
“I was there the moment he took his first breath,” Nikki said. “I will be at every ball game, graduation and important moment in his life because I’m his mother too.”
But in the eyes of Louisiana law, she technically isn’t.
Louisiana’s civil code establishes parental rights over any child born in the state to the birth mother and “the husband of the mother,” or, if the woman is unmarried, the physiological father can petition a court for rights. Nikki is female, so neither title fits.
The couple used a sperm donor to conceive their son through intrauterine insemination. Jessica, who provided the egg, carried him to term.
So, at the advice of a family lawyer, the couple applied for adoption, a common step for same-sex and heterosexual couples who rely on sperm or egg donors. The complex legal process solidifies rights for a non-biological pare
New Orleans LGBTQ+ Family Lawyers
Same-sex marriage is legal in Louisiana based on the US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. That Supreme Court case, decided in , provides that the denial of marriage rights between same-sex partners is unconstitutional. As a result of this decision, many members of the LGBTQ+ community have married in Louisiana or moved from other states where they were already legally married. Just like other couples, many LGBTQ+ spouses also divorce, prepare prenuptial agreements, raise children, and may have a desire for a protective order from domestic abuse.
The lawyers at the Law Office of James A. Graham, help LGBTQ+ spouses, parents, and those people planning for marriage with all their family law issues. Our New Orleans LGBTQ+ family lawyers will clarify your legal rights and obligations including the right to divorce, the duty to pay or receive spousal support or noun support, child custody issues, adoption, and all other relevant family law issues.