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Craig Fahle
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The couple hoped to have a child
with Greenapple's egg, along with an
anonymous Jewish donor. Like many
couples though, after attempts at IUI
(Inter-Uterine Insertion), Greenapple
was unable to conceive. As an alter-
native effort, both Greenapple and
Pais decided to try IVF (In Vitro
Fertilization) at the same time using
Greenapple's eggs. They decided to
let fate take its course. Pais became
pregnant and gave birth to Nadav
(Hebrew for noble and generous) on
Feb. 10, 1999.
As difficult as that process was,
it wasn't the end of their struggles.
When the clerical staff member at
the hospital took a look at the birth
certificate application form they
filled out, she advised them that she
couldn't submit the form with two
mothers on it because it would be
rejected by the state.
"This was our first experience of
resistance with respect to having a
child together:' Pais recalls.
Because the laws in Michigan
favor whomever carries the child,
Greenapple had to take her name off
of the form. "This is when it became
real for me," Greenapple says. "As
a 'genetic egg donor: I had no legal
rights to Nadav, and this experience
made me all the more aware
They sued the state of Michigan to
get the birth certificate form changed.
The state won the case, asserting that
they couldn't change their forms even
though there were two different ver-
sions of this particular form submit-
ted into evidence.
Greenapple and Pais took time to
learn what their choices were and
eventually "adopted" their own son
through Catholic Social Services.
For a brief moment, Pais had to give
up her rights as Nadav's mother and
Greenapple had to sign away her
rights as well — the rights that the
state refused to give to her in the first
place. Both Greenapple and Pais then
"adopted" their son. "It was humili-
ating and infuriating; Greenapple
recalls.
They still couldn't get a birth cer-
tificate with both of their names on
it until Jennifer Granholm took office
and ordered the state to accept appli-
cations from parents with dual same-
sex parent adoptions like Greenapple
and Pais.
Nadav is 13 years old and attends
the Roeper School in Bloomfield
Hills. He just celebrated his bar
mitzvah this past February at
Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield.
"Being in a family like mine is
completely normal to me he says. "I
wouldn't have it any other way:'
Though he has not encountered
prejudice from people, he says,
"Sometimes people are surprised
when I first tell them about my
moms:'
ACLU's Kaplan says, "Although
polling of Michiganders reflects that
people are fairly progressive on LGBT
issues, these attitudes are not reflect-
ed in our current laws and public
policies. This is likely because most
people are not aware of the positions
of their elected leaders regarding
LGBT issues:'
Greenapple, who has seen posi-
tive change in recent years on LGBT
issues, says, "The Torah tells us
`Justice, justice you shall pursue: Jews
are called upon to ensure justice for
everyone:'
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Craig talks FiOlitiCS.
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Resources
And Support
Over the years, many organiza-
tions have come into existence as
a resource for the LGBT commu-
nity. Six years ago, the Jewish Gay
Network of Michigan (JGN) was
created.
JGN's President Michael Phillips
explains that the organization edu-
cates both kids and adults in the
community. JGN also acts as an
advocate for the LGBT community.
JGN services:
• Hosts a monthly support and dis-
cussion group, including friends and
family, on the first Thursday of the
month in the West Bloomfield Jewish
Community Center library.
• Fields calls from individuals and
G reat Time.
families that need information and
resources.
• Represents the Jewish commu-
nity at Motor City Pride in June.
• Sponsored Joy Ladin, a trans-
gender woman who was a professor
at Yeshiva University, at this year's
Jewish Book Fair.
• Holds a monthly potluck or a
brunch in observance of Shabbat and
the Jewish holidays.
To reach the Jewish Gay Network,
call (248) 432-5661 or go to www.
jgnmi.org.
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Craig
and WSU Law Professor Jocelyn Benson
Join Craig
Weekdays at 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.
For issues related to LGBT discrimination
and public policy, contact Jay Kaplan
at the LGBT Project of the ACLU of
Michigan at (313) 578-6812.
WDET is a
service of
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WAYNE STATE
UNIVERSITY
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November 15 • 2012 11