Same-sex couples in Mississippi now have the right to adopt children. Last week's ruling that struck down the same-sex adoption ban in court has some same-sex couples looking forward to becoming parents. MPB's Maura Moed reports.
Brittany Harbuck and her wife, Jessica will begin soon begin the process of adopting children. They were one of the four couples who sued the state for it's ban on adoption by gay couples. Harbuck says this means they can now move forward and start their family.
"It just added an extra layer of anxiety that is suddenly gone. Now, when we have children, we will both be legal, fully vetted, rightful parents to our children. That's a really good feeling," Harbuck says.
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara is Executive Director at the Campaign for Southern Equality - one of two groups that joined the case, representing LGBT families in Mississippi. She says this change is long overdue.
"Plaintiffs and other families are immediately beginning to pursue adoption. We're just overjoyed for what this means for families who can now move forward with adoption proceedings and live with the knowledge and security and emotional comfort of knowing that their family is protected," Ferrara says.
According to Census data from 2010, 29 percent of the nearly 3,500 same-sex couples currently living in Mississippi are raising children under the age of 18 in their homes. Under the ruling both parents will now have full, legal rights.
