A local same-sex couple is still fighting to have both of their names listed on their children’s birth certificates.
Kari and Debbie Chin, of St. Petersburg, have joined two other Florida couples in a federal lawsuit against the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.
The suit is asking for both same-sex parents to be listed on birth certificates. Despite Kari and Debbie being legally married and each having a child together, neither woman is listed on both birth certificates.
“Well, right now I'm not legally recognized as his parent,” says Debbie. “I'm a legal stranger to Amzi (Kari’s son). So if something were to happen to Kari, I have no legal rights to my son.”
Although same-sex marriage became legal in Florida in January and the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling made it the law of the land back in June, some other aspects of marriage equality are still being hammered out.
“We do have marriage equality, so it's sort of almost seems silly to have to go through this,” said Kari.
Attorneys for the couples want the new birth certificates issued immediately. If they’re not, they’ll file motions in court next week.