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Leigh Smith speaking "I've just all my life wanted to be a mom." Crystal Hendrix speaking "It's hard to have two kids who are two and
a half and seven months without constantly finding something to laugh at." Leigh Smith speaking "There's always
something going on." Title: Securing the Ties That Bind; Second Parent Adoption in North Carolina
Leigh Smith: "We have two children Quinn is 2 and a half years old and Joe is seven months."
Crystal Hendrix speaking " We get up every morning and we think about what is best for our family
I am the biological mother which means I'm the legal Mother in the eyes of the law and
I want to make sure that Leigh is the one raising our children if something happens
to me second parent adoption is the way to ensure that Leigh and Quinn and Joe have that security."
Second parent adoption occurs when one partner in an unmarried couple adopts
the other partners biological or adoptive child. This can occur in both gay and straight
relationships.Second parent adoption is illegal in North Carolina. The ACLU is challenging
the ban on second parent adoption in North Carolina on behalf of six gay and lesbian couples and their children
Leighs parents: "They need to have their family protected so they can always be together, as a family."
Leigh speaking: "When we found out that second parent adoption have been banned
in North Carolina It just It was like a slap in the face we were devastated you know the whole family was just calling and crying."
Leighs Father speaking: "I'm concerned that something could happen
to Crystal and these two kids that are a part of my family could possibly be removed from my family."
Crystal speaking: "I come from a very conservative family and they do not recognize us a as a
family unit and they do not recognize Leigh as Quinn and Joes parent. If something were
to happen to me I worry about Quin and Joes future. Someone else could end up raising my children."
Leigh speaking: "You know I constantly worry if something does happen. You know what will happen with
the kids you know will I continue to be their Mom . That's a fear that's always there."
Leighs parents: "How sad that it would be for them to have such a close relationship with her and have such
devotion from her and then it disappear. Grandparents who really love them and care about them,
and extended family aunts uncles and cousins.. um, they deserve that."
Leigh speaking:" Second parent adoption would mean that we were a family. A set family that no one could take that away from us.
That's the main thing it means to me... that we're secure."
To learn more about the families involved in the ACLU's second parent adoption case, visit www.aclu.org/second-parent-adoption-NC