Friday Legal Updates - California Bill, Chicago Scammer, Ohio (oh, my), DC & same sex couples, & International Issues
Hello! I am back after a two week hiatus on my Friday Legal Updates, but it is summer so the wheels of justice turn slowly, as does legislation. Either way, here are today's updates for the last few weeks:
California - The California Legislature is getting back into the Prop 8 fight with a bill that would recognize those same-sex marriages performed legally outside of California before the measure had passed. SB54 also intends to ensure that gay and lesbian couples who have been married legally in other states and countries since November 5th when Prop 8 became official can receive all the rights and obligations that opposite sex Californian couples enjoy.
Illinois - More couples are coming out of the woodwork regarding a surrogate who had scammed them into believing that she was pregnant with their baby. Beware!
Ohio - A Republican lawmaker in Ohio is re-introducing a bill that would give a man the final choice on whether the woman he got pregnant can have an abortion. I am so "impressed" that a man can force a woman to keep the baby, but the bill mentions nothing about forcing him to be a good father or provide financial stability.
DC - A new DC law is making it alot easier for a newborn to have two moms at birth. Lesbians who create a child via artificial insemination will no longer have to adopt their children that have been born to their partners. A similar law is to go into effect in New Mexico in 2010. This is a huge step for same sex couples, as they do not have to go through the time consuming and expensive legal process that is not required of heterosexual couples who use artificial insemination.
Croatia - Croatia continues to tighten their laws on fertility treatments by forbiding the freezing of embryos. It also limits the number of embryos used to three and for unmarried couples, they must prove that they have been together for at least three years.
Romania - 30 Israelis were detained in an egg trafficking case. It sounds like the issue is on its way to being resolved from more recent reports; however, I certainly hope that this is not an issue of human trafficking.
