Adopting a Lover

Jack Baker, 29, is president of the University of Minnesota Student Association, a top-ranking third-year law student--and a homosexual. Since arriving in Minnesota two years ago, he and his roommate-lover, James McConnell, also 29, have been seeking a marriage license; their appeal of the authorities' refusal to grant a license is before the Minnesota Supreme Court. Meanwhile, like a good lawyer, Baker has sought some other means to establish a legal relationship with McConnell. Last week he found one. A judge in Minneapolis allowed McConnell to adopt Baker.

Inheritance Rights. The Gay Activists Alliance believes the ruling to be the first of its kind--at least between publicly admitted homosexuals. McConnell and Baker were basically trying to legitimize their association as best they could, but they say that they also had inheritance rights in mind. And Baker now should be able to get a $300 quarterly resident's discount on his tuition since his nonstudent "father" can establish a state domicile. McConnell (who is suing to regain the university job he lost because of his homosexuality) may also be able to gain a head-of-house-hold tax deduction.

At the adoption proceedings, Baker's name became Pat Lyn McConnell, but he has not yet decided whether to use the name. Also undecided is what effect the new relationship will have on their marriage license appeal. Baker's natural parents are dead, but lawyers say that even if they were not, the adoption would probably have been possible with or without their consent because he is not a minor. That issue will likely be tested soon enough, because the adoption solution seems certain to be tried as a way of providing legal bonds for such unconventional relationships as communes and group marriages.

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