"A Texas state appeals court this month recognized the parental status of the non-biological mother in a lesbian relationship," reports Gideon Alper. The ruling came reverses a previous one by the same court that said the non-biological mom had no parental rights because she was not married to the biological mother. Before the ruling, the non-biological mother, who had split from her partner, wasn't allowed to petition for custody or visitation rights to her ex-partner's child. Now she'll be able to.