Statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Equality Ohio has launched an updated Family Law Guide, a public resource developed to help LGBTQ+ Ohioans and legal professionals better understand and navigate domestic relations law in Ohio.
Topics covered in the guide include marriage, divorce, dissolution, custody, parentage and juvenile custody.
The updated guide comes during a challenging time for Ohio’s LGBTQ+ families. Ohio’s constitution defines marriage as “only a union between one man and one woman” and the Ohio Revised Code does not allow a same-sex couple to adopt together.
Although both of these measures are unenforceable due to the Supreme Court’s landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015 that granted marriage equality, Justice Clarence Thomas has repeatedly expressed an interest in revisiting that decision.
Lead author and Equality Ohio Legal Clinic Attorney Referral Network Member Joy Savren said that although the guide is not a substitute for personalized advice from a qualified attorney, the resource provides “clear, accessible guidance on how family law uniquely affects LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Ohio.”
“Its ultimate goal is to empower LGBTQ+ individuals and families to understand their rights and navigate legal information with confidence,” Savren said in a statement.
The Family Law Guide also centers the idea of “cultural humility.”
“Too often, LGBTQ+ families encounter barriers that go beyond statutes,” Becky Sullivan Esq., project contributor and Equality Ohio Legal Clinic staff attorney, said in a statement. “They face misunderstanding, stigma, or silence in the legal system. Our goal with this guide is to equip both families and practitioners with knowledge that not only clarifies the law, but also affirms lived experience.”
Key features of the guide include:
- Accessible breakdowns of family law processes for LGBTQ+ families
- Language and terms to build affirming legal environments
- Guidance for practitioners committed to culturally humble legal service
Equality Ohio encourages families, allies, and attorneys to explore and share this free resource. 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- Access Equality Ohio’s free Family Law Guide by going here.
- Equality Ohio’s Legal Clinic offers many free legal services, like consumer law (such as fraud and identity theft), family law, civil rights, administrative help (such as SSI or disability) and more. For more information, go here.
Know an LGBTQ+ Ohio story we should cover? TELL US!
Submit a story!
