Nebraska Still Fighting Same-Sex Marriage 11 Months After Obergefell

State Won’t Let Married Couple, Who Are Lesbians, Have Both Parents’ Names on Birth Certificate

Nearly 11 months after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of nationwide marriage equality, Nebraska still isn’t allowing same-sex couples to be listed as parents on birth certificates. 

Kristin and Katie Collins-Henderson of Omaha (photo) are expecting their second child next month. But because the state hasn’t updated its birth certificate forms to reflect the high court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, Katie Collins-Henderson can only be listed as “friend” on the document. 

“It’s kind of like a kick in the gut. I’m not a friend. This is my child, too,” Katie Collins Henderson told WOWT-TV.  

The Collins-Hendersons, who traveled to Iowa to have their first child so they could both be listed on the birth certificate, said they recently learned from hospital officials that the state still hasn’t updated its birth certificate forms. 

The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) agreed to update the forms last November, as part of the ACLU’s original lawsuit challenging the state’s marriage ban. Due to concerns about implementation of the changes, the ACLU obtained an injunction from a federal judge this February, ordering Nebraska officials to treat same-sex couples equally, including on birth certificates. 

However, more than three months later, state officials say they need to hold a hearing — scheduled for today — to take input from the public on what the updated birth certificates will look like. 

“This is an important step in the process before changes to the birth certificate are made,” said Taylor Gage, a spokesman for GOP Gov. Pete Ricketts. 

Asked whether it normally takes a year to change state documents after a court ruling, a DHHS official told the station: “The time from when legislation is passed to implementation varies.”

After the hearing, the proposed changes must be signed off on by both the attorney general and governor — but that isn’t likely to happen in time for the Collins-Hendersons. 

Katie Collins-Henderson questioned why the public should even have a say in how the new forms look. 

“I believe they don’t want to change it and they’re dragging their feet.” she said.  

 

EARLIER:

Nebraska GOP Governor: Bill Protecting LGBT Citizens ‘Unnecessary’ (Video)

GOP Lawmaker Pushes ‘Religious Freedom’ To Kill Bill Allowing Gays Equal Adoption Rights

Nebraska Woman Sues All ‘Homosexuals’ In Federal Court, Because Jesus (Literally)

 

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