Same-sex couples become among first to adopt in Mississippi

Hattiesburg, Miss. (AP) — Same-sex couples across Mississippi are finalizing adoptions now that the state's ban on such adoptions has ended.

In Hattiesburg on Wednesday, WDAM-TV (http://bit.ly/1T2kgMv) reports a judge signed papers to allow Donnie Cleveland to join his husband Russ Royals as the legal parent of their son John.

In Biloxi, WLOX-TV (http://bit.ly/1T2kfsa ) reports Andrea Bickett joined her wife Rebecca as a legal parent of 7-month-old Regan.

The deadline passed earlier this week for Mississippi to appeal a federal ruling against a state ban on adoption by same-sex couples.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan issued a preliminary injunction March 31 ordering the Department of Human Services to stop enforcing the ban. He says the ban was unconstitutional after earlier U.S. Supreme Court decisions legalized gay marriage and benefits for gay couples.

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The Gayly – May 6, 2016 @ 3 p.m.