The New York Court of Appeals has ruled in two cases involving child support and visitation rights with regard to gay and biological parents, the NYT reports:
"In one case, the court, the Court of Appeals found that a woman is entitled to seek child support from her former partner, who is not the biological mother of a child the couple raised together before they separated.
The ruling was 4 to 3.
In the second case, the court ruled that a woman can seek visitation rights from her former partner because she is a legal parent, even though she is not the child's biological mother. The two women entered into a civil union in Vermont.
The ruling was 7 to 0 that the nonbiological parent, referred to in court documents as Debra H., had parental rights.
The rulings reflect the Court of Appeals expanding affirmation of rights for gays and lesbians. The court has generally ruled that short of same-sex marriage — which it has said should be approved by the State Legislature — gay and lesbian couples can enjoy a broad range of legal protections.
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