France's top
court on Friday granted gay couples joint parental rights,
where previously only the biological parent had authority.
"The civil code
is not opposed to a mother, as sole holder of the
parental authority, delegating all or part of the duties to
the woman with whom she lives in a stable and
continuous union," the Cour de Cassation court wrote
in its ruling. The decision of the court, which
interprets French law but does not hear trials, also applies
to gay male couples when one partner is a biological
father.
Previously,
French law granted parental responsibility to someone other
than a biological parent only in unusual cases and did not
cover gay couples in that regard.
The legal win is
the latest victory for French gays and lesbians, who are
allowed civil unions but are still fighting for marriage and
adoption rights. (Advocate.com)
