Governor Romney rejected new birth certificates for gay parents

[^_^ 5,021]

It seemed like a minor adjustment. To comply with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that legalized gay marriage in 2003, the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics said it needed to revise its birth certificate forms for babies born to same-sex couples. The box for “father” would be relabeled “father or second parent,’’ reflecting the new law.

...

[Governor Romney] rejected the Registry of Vital Records plan and insisted that his top legal staff individually review the circumstances of every birth to same-sex parents. Only after winning approval from Romney’s lawyers could hospital officials and town clerks across the state be permitted to cross out by hand the word “father’’ on individual birth certificates, and then write in “second parent,’’ in ink.

...

Crossouts and handwritten alterations constituted “violations of existing statutes’’ and harmed “the integrity of the vital record-keeping system,’’ the deputy general counsel of the department, Peggy Wiesenberg, warned in a confidential Dec. 13, 2004, memo to Mark Nielsen, Romney’s general counsel.

The changes also would impair law enforcement and security efforts in a post-9/11 world, she said, and children with altered certificates would be likely to “encounter [difficulties] later in life . . . as they try to register for school, or apply for a passport or a driver’s license, or enlist in the military, or register to vote.”

Romney’s interventions mostly resulted in delays awarding birth certificates for women married to same-sex partners who gave birth.

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The Romney campaign declined to comment.

http://bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2012/10/24/mitt-romney-overruled-state-agency-and-rejected-new-birth-certificates-for-children-born-gay-parents/TqOHBb99V98H6nGQqUQrjO/story.html

[bsd058 296]

Umm...I don't mean to bring up a very obvious point, but a baby cannot be biologically the child of two of the same gender. And I always thought the point of a birth certificate to indicate who is the biological father and mother. And if the biological father isn't known, then they might indicate it. I could be wrong. That could be a Canadian thing. Or something I made up in my head. Maybe someone could enlighten me on the process, though.

Thanks.

Edited October 25, 2012 by bsd058

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Which "parent" carried the baby? Sometimes this silliness knows no bounds. Even in the case of adoption, I would hope that information would be maintained for the sake of the child as they mature, and want to know.

Of course, if both "fathers" mixed their sperm in a cocktail, prior to insemination by alternate means, no reason that both couldn't have their names listed jointly.

[Danno 1,228]

Has it been common practice that the details of a birth reflect the wish list of the parents or non parents?

Are birth records "vital statistics" or a fabrications as we wish it too be?

Are Adoptive parents allowed to re-write their adopted children's B.C.

[^_^ 5,021]

Umm...I don't mean to bring up a very obvious point, but a baby cannot be biologically the child of two of the same gender. And I always thought the point of a birth certificate to indicate who is the biological father and mother. And if the biological father isn't known, then they might indicate it. I could be wrong. That could be a Canadian thing. Or something I made up in my head. Maybe someone could enlighten me on the process, though.

Thanks.

No. What happens when a woman is inseminated with another mans semen? It is not the biodad's name that ends up on the BC.

[Danno 1,228]

Which "parent" carried the baby? Sometimes this silliness knows no bounds. Even in the case of adoption, I would hope that information would be maintained for the sake of the child as they mature, and want to know.

Of course, if both "fathers" mixed their sperm in a cocktail, prior to insemination by alternate means, no reason that both couldn't have their names listed jointly.

Should there be a limit to how many men can contribute to the cocktail?

Or maybe they should just use a blood sample to see whose sperm was faster.

In fact that sounds like the ultimate Bet in a hedonistic society. Whoever in the cocktail ends up being the father wins, in the case of maternal twins they split the pot.

Edited October 25, 2012 by Danno

[bsd058 296]

Which "parent" carried the baby? Sometimes this silliness knows no bounds. Even in the case of adoption, I would hope that information would be maintained for the sake of the child as they mature, and want to know.

Of course, if both "fathers" mixed their sperm in a cocktail, prior to insemination by alternate means, no reason that both couldn't have their names listed jointly.

Well, couldn't they just have the DNA tested to see which is the actual father?

[quote name=' timestamp='1351184386' post='5779904]

No. What happens when a woman is inseminated with another mans semen? It is not the biodad's name that ends up on the BC.

Good point. I just always thought they would want the biological info. Thanks.

Not saying I agree with the fact that they do this, but maybe that's just the way it is.

Edited October 25, 2012 by bsd058

[decocker 7,198]

i'm pretty sure you can put anyone down as the father on the birth certificate - no dna needed. as long as the 'father' is willing to sign - he's on the birth certificate. least that's how it is in virginia.

[Danno 1,228]

[quote name=' timestamp='1351184386' post='5779904]

No. What happens when a woman is inseminated with another mans semen? It is not the biodad's name that ends up on the BC.

Sure because that practice goes back to the era of "assumption" before the means to make an actual determination.

But could a single mother later get married and add the new fathers name to the BC ? Not that I am aware of.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Should there be a limit to how many men can contribute to the cocktail?

Or maybe they should just use a blood sample to see whose sperm was faster.

It would be enough to list the likely suspects. So many diseases and conditions now have recognizable genetic indicators, that if one of the possible biological parents had such a condition, that might warrant a dna test to see if the child also carries that trait. But, if the child isn't asking yet, no reason for the test right away. I just think that information should be recorded and maintained for some future need of the child.

[Danno 1,228]

i'm pretty sure you can put anyone down as the father on the birth certificate - no dna needed. as long as the 'father' is willing to sign - he's on the birth certificate. least that's how it is in virginia.

and if two fathers both make claim?

[DaveE 178]

Has it been common practice that the details of a birth reflect the wish list of the parents or non parents?

Are birth records "vital statistics" or a fabrications as we wish it too be?

Are Adoptive parents allowed to re-write their adopted children's B.C.

Actually yes. I just adopted my stepdaughter from the Phiippines. After the adoption was final, she was issued a Georgia Birth Certificate showing me as the father and my wife as the mother.

[bsd058 296]

and if two fathers both make claim?

I'm sure if there was a dual claim, they would take it to the courts to decide based upon precedent or scientific inquiry.

[Danno 1,228]

It would be enough to list the likely suspects. So many diseases and conditions now have recognizable genetic indicators, that if one of the possible biological parents had such a condition, that might warrant a dna test to see if the child also carries that trait. But, if the child isn't asking yet, no reason for the test right away. I just think that information should be recorded and maintained for some future need of the child.

Wonder what the SSI payout would be for a minor with two dead fathers listed on his BC?

[JohnR! 5,495]

Are Adoptive parents allowed to re-write their adopted children's B.C.

In just about every state and several foreign countries.