The American Civil Liberties Union is currently helping six pairs of llesbian and gay parents fight for second-parent adoption rights for same-sex families in North Carolina.

As the ACLU points out on its website, children denied a legally recognized second parent are left vulnerable. They can be removed from their home if the legal parent dies, hospital staff may prevent their non-legal parent from consenting to needed care, and they may be unable to receive the health insurance benefits of their non-legal parent.

In addition to fighting this battle on the legal front, the ACLU has launched a video campaign showcasing the moving stories of two of these families, bringing awareness to the challenges they face.

Watch the stories of Crystal and Leigh and Shana and Megan below, and find out how you can help secure adoption rights for LGBT families at www.aclu.org.

Crystal and Leigh

Shana and Megan

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