Mississippi courts recognises lesbian woman as mother to non-biological child

In a landmark case, the Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Christina Strickland, a lesbian mother who was suing for the rights to her non-biological child. Strickland had a child, Zayden, with her partner Kimberly when they were married. Kimberly carried Zayden via a sperm donor.

When the couple separated in 2013, a judge denied Strickland’s request to be a legal guardian to their child because she had no biological connection to him. Strickland appealed this decision and this week was granted status as a parent.

Justice David M. Ishee wrote for the court: “Under Mississippi law, an anonymous sperm donor does not possess any parental right … As for Christina’s parental rights…we reverse the chancery court finding that Christina acted in loco parentis, but was not an equal parent with parental rights to Z.S.”

Strickland has said that “It is a relief that my status as a parent in my son’s life can never be questioned or stripped away.”

The decision has been praised by Lambda Legal Counsel Beth Littrell, who said in a statement: “Today’s ruling is confirmation for thousands of married couples in Mississippi who know that the love, care, and responsibility that comes with being a mom or dad goes far beyond the blood relationship of an anonymous sperm donor.

“The Court recognized that marriage equality as the law of the land in Mississippi. No matter the gender of your spouse, all married couples and their children now receive the same respect for their parent-child relationships when they bring children into their families through reproductive technology.”

Tim Gibson - mygwork

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