Rita Goodman and her then-partner Siobhan LaPiana planned to have a family. LaPiana gave birth to two children, now aged 11 and 8.
Both women equally parented the boys, who love and rely on both of them as their mothers ,according to court documents filed by Lambda Legal which represents Goodman.
Before the birth of the first child, Goodman and LaPiana drafted and signed a parenting agreement detailing their intent to share all responsibilities of parenthood.
After the couple ended their 10-relationship, LaPiana began restricting Goodman's time with the boys.
In February 2007, Goodman filed a lawsuit, and in August 2008, the trial court ordered visitation for Goodman.
LaPiana appealed, arguing among other things that Ohio's antigay constitutional amendment prevents courts from entering orders permitting former lesbian partners to share custody, and that the court's order unconstitutionally infringed on her right to autonomy as a parent.
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