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KDHE Issues Birth Certificates To Same-Sex Kansas Couples

Katelyn Kenderdine, flickr Creative Commons

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has agreed to issue birth certificates for two same-sex couples.

In both cases, the women had children through artificial insemination.

Kansas law says a married couple can both be listed on the birth certificate for a child born through artificial insemination, but KDHE initially declined to list two women as the parents.

KDHE spokesperson Sara Belfry says they issued the certificates after reviewing applicable laws and court orders. She says they will issue birth certificates in the future to same-sex couples.

“Based on the cases that we are looking at currently, in these types of situations we will continue to issue birth certificates," Belry says.

Attorney David Brown represents a Lawrence couple in a lawsuit over the issue. He says his clients are happy with the outcome, but he says it’s unfortunate they had to take legal action to make it happen.

Stephen Koranda is the managing editor of the Kansas News Service, based at KCUR. He has nearly 20 years of experience in public media as a reporter and editor.