A lesbian in Virginia USA Has Won the Right to Take her Partner's Surname
Judge C. Randall Lowe rejected Leigh Anne Ruth Hunter’s request because while “the petitioner and her partner hold themselves out as a married couple,” same-sex marriage is banned in Virginia. Therefore, Lowe ruled that the name was requested “for fraudulent purposes,” reports Advocate.com.
Hunter and her partner, Jennifer Beth Surber, both petitioned to use Hunter as their middle name and Surber as their last name.
The couple have been together for eight years and are raising a daughter together. They wanted to share the name to reflect their solidarity as a family, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented them in court.
The couple filed again in November to revisit their proposed name change. Virginia legal director Rebecca Glenberg argued that the name change did not violate the state’s marriage law because it did not give either of the women any of the responsibilities or benefits that marriage would institute.
by Stacey Cosens pinkpaper.com
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