Same-sex ex gets parental rights

A judge has ruled in favor of a woman who sought parental rights to a boy and girl adopted by her former same-sex partner. Michelle Kulstad sought joint custody of the children adopted by Barbara Maniaci.

“To discriminate further against Ms. Kulstad because of her sexual preference in this day and age is no different than telling a person to go to the back of the bus because of her skin color,” District Judge Ed McLean ruled Monday.

Attorneys for both sides have said the same-sex parental rights trial was a first for the state, whose voters in 2004 rejected same-sex marriage by about a 2-to-1 margin.