Equality Illinois issued a statement praising a new state rule recognizing the rights of all same-sex couples to have their names on birth certificates if they are the intended parents of a baby through surrogacy.
In a letter sent to all the hospitals in the state that provide birthing services, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck wrote, "From this point forward, all same-sex 'intended' parents that are not married or in a civil union will be recorded on the birth record, in the same manner that you currently record opposite-sex 'intended' parents."
Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, said, "This is another step that recognizes the rights of same-sex couples in Illinois, who only want to build loving families and be treated the same as opposite-sex couples without legal or bureaucratic roadblocks."
