Angela Alfarache and Ivonne Cervantes, a lesbian couple living in Mexico City, are finally about to receive something they’ve yearned for: formal recognition of their union from the government, when the Mexican capital, which legalized same-sex civil unions in 2007, starts handing out gay marriage licenses there March 4. Happy day! But for the past six years, since the birth of their daughter Constanza, at least one of those moms hasn’t been recognized as a legal mother. So what was the solution Angela and Ivonne dreamed up? Simply refuse to say which of them gave birth to Constanza and is her biological mother. Love it.
This “solution” is not unique to these two women. And it’s far from full-proof; the state could, theoretically, force both women to undergo DNA testing to declare which is the biological mother. But that’s only likely if the pair split, and enter a custody dispute. In the meantime, hospitals and schools are forced to either accept that both parents are, in fact, Constanza’s mother, or decide haphazardly on their own — and face their own legal wrath.
(Photo: NYT)
ksu499
That’s “fool proof”. Not “full-proof”. I realize you are not the New York Times, but at least you could try.
Jena
Not a bad idea. However IDK how well that would work in the states, with birth certificates and all, there is no doubt who gave birth to the child. I suppose it might work more easily with men, here but IDK.
hyhybt
It’s Saturday; perhaps “full-proof” describes the editor’s beverage choice.
Same Crap
@hyhybt: Sadly, it describes their beverage choice everyday. The amount of factual errors, misleading and poorly-written headlines, and malapropisms would make even an editor of a jr. high newspaper wince.
Tartuffe
You’d think a birth certificate would be required to matriculate a child in a public school system…