Two Nebraska Women Sue to List Both of Their Names on Their Children’s Birth Certificates
Two Omaha women sued the state’s public health agency on Monday after it denied their request to list both of their names as parents on their children’s birth certificates.
Erin Porterfield and Kristin Williams allege in their lawsuit that state officials treat unmarried, same-sex couples differently than unmarried, opposite-sex couples, in violation of their due process and equal protection rights.
The women argue that listing them both is critical because it could affect their children’s eligibility for government benefits, should something happen to one of them. They also accuse the state of sexual discrimination because it allows men to voluntarily acknowledge that they are parents to get onto a birth certificate, but doesn’t allow women to do so.
