Hazel Park couple at center of gay marriage case among families at Adoption Day

PONTIAC >> The Hazel Park lesbian couple whose legal effort to overturn Michigan’s gay marriage ban is before the U.S. Supreme Court were among the six families who publicly finalized adoptions Tuesday with judges from the Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division.
Judge Lisa Gorcyca officiated April DeBoer’s adoption of 2-year-old Rylee JoAnee DeBoer-Rowse. DeBoer cannot jointly adopt with her partner, Jayne Rowse, as the two cannot legally marry in Michigan. Under state law, two adults must be married to jointly adopt.
Rowse said the moment was bittersweet. “The state recognizes us as legal foster parents, but not as adoptive parents,” she said. “My legality to Rylee has now ended according to the state.”

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Rylee, who was DeBoer and Rowse’s foster child, is the fourth child to be adopted by one of the women. Her adoption was done through Oakland Family Services.
The two nurses first sued to overturn Michigan’s gay marriage ban in order to jointly adopt, and U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman struck down the gay marriage ban March 21. Friedman’s ruling was overturned by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month, and that ruling has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Gorcyca said Adoption Day helps raise awareness of children in need of a family.
“Hopefully more families will find it in themselves to adopt children that are in need of a loving, stable home.”
Erin Wright, community liaison at the Ennis Center for Children in Pontiac, said about 3,000 children are awaiting adoption at any given time in Michigan. About 100 adoptions are processed by Oakland County Adoption Services each year.
Most of the children adopted at Tuesday’s celebration came into the foster care system due to the rights of their biological parents being terminated due to abuse or neglect, Wright said.
Andre and Lolita Siner adopted siblings Diamon Miracle-Simone Shelton and Que’Ana Latrese Monet Shelton Tuesday through the Ennis Center for Children.
The Pontiac couple has adopted four of seven siblings. “I grew up with my siblings, and I couldn’t imagine being without them,” Andre said. “I wanted them to experience life together with their siblings.”

Each adoptive parent took an oath Tuesday, and judges asked parents questions to determine if the adoption could go forward.
“You will be this child’s parent just as if they were born to you,” each judge said.
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra and Justice-Elect Richard Bernstein attended the 12th Annual Celebration of Michigan Adoption Day, held at the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Auditorium.
The Arthur Eugene Moore Champion of Children Award was presented to Susan Hull, and the Sandra Silver Advocate for Children Award was presented to William Lansat.

--- Tribune