Federal Judge Prohibits State From Enforcing Law Banning Gay Adoption

A federal judge has just blocked Mississippi’s ban on gay people and same-sex couples adopting children. U.S. District JudgeÂ Daniel P. Jordan III, citing the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and barredÂ the Mississippi Department of Human Services and its director from enforcing that ban.

Judge Jordan wrote that it seems “highly unlikely that the same court that held a state cannot ban gay marriage because it would deny benefitsâ€”expressly including the right to adoptâ€”would then conclude that married gay couples can be denied that very same benefit.”

And he ruled the Mississippi ban “violates the Equal Protection ClauseÂ of the United States Constitution.”

Roberta Kaplan, who won Edie Windsor’s case striking down DOMA at the Supreme Court was the lead attorney.

We just won Mississippi adoption case! So proud of our brave clients! @CSELive @family_equality https://t.co/8jEk8Px3ai â€” Robbie Kaplan (@kaplanrobbie) March 31, 2016

The Campaign for Southern Equality, which also represented the plaintiffs, posted these tweets:

The ban on adoption by LGBT couples in Mississippiâ€”the last state to explicitly ban such adoptionsâ€”was held to be unconstitutional â€” Southern Equality (@CSElive) March 31, 2016

We know #LGBT folks in Mississippi are angry/upset/hurt about House Bill 1523, but as this ruling shows we will fight for you. â€” Southern Equality (@CSElive) March 31, 2016

The full ruling is here.