441622

Justin Karas, left, and Jason Holling, right, look at baby formula on July 13, 2014 at Baby's R' Us in Omaha, Neb. The couple started researching and began their adoption journey in 2012. In Nebraska unmarried couples, regardless of gender, cannot adopt jointly. "We had gone for years thinking we couldn’t adopt because of the state laws," Holling said. "We even called agencies in Nebraska who basically hung up on us and said, sorry, we won’t work with same-sex couples." A Gallup poll in 2014 showed that more than one-third of Americans oppose that same-sex couples should have the legal right to adopt a child. Holling and Karas eventually matched with a birthmother who would have her baby in Illinois, a state that allows unmarried couples to adopt jointly. In August 2014, after many hurdles and disappointments, they adopted their daughter Abby Holling-Karas as a newborn in Illinois.

Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: JJ_photoshelter01.JPG
Copyright: Omaha World-Herald
Image Size: 5000x3400 / 2.1MB; 441622

Justin Karas, left, and Jason Holling, right, look at baby formula on July 13, 2014 at Baby's R' Us in Omaha, Neb. The couple started researching and began their adoption journey in 2012. In Nebraska unmarried couples, regardless of gender, cannot adopt jointly. "We had gone for years thinking we couldn’t adopt because of the state laws," Holling said. "We even called agencies in Nebraska who basically hung up on us and said, sorry, we won’t work with same-sex couples." A Gallup poll in 2014 showed that more than one-third of Americans oppose that same-sex couples should have the legal right to adopt a child. Holling and Karas eventually matched with a birthmother who would have her baby in Illinois, a state that allows unmarried couples to adopt jointly. In August 2014, after many hurdles and disappointments, they adopted their daughter Abby Holling-Karas as a newborn in Illinois.