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BOSTON (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts is being asked to decide the parental rights of an unmarried gay woman whose former girlfriend gave birth to two children through artificial insemination.
Karen Partanen wants to be declared a full legal parent of the children, 4 and 7. Partanen and Julie Gallagher decided to have children and raised them together.
A judge dismissed Partanen's request, finding she did not meet the requirements for legal parentage under state law because she and Gallagher were not married when the children were born and Partanen is not a biological parent.
Gallagher acknowledges that Partanen has been a good parent. But Gallagher also says she should have the right to make legal decisions for the children as their biological parent.
The Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments Tuesday.
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