Man marries his former son, but it’s not what you think
A man has married his former son – after an adoption order they filed to get legal rights was dissolved to allow them to tie the knot.
Norman MacArthur and Bill Novak, 76 and 78, have been a couple for nearly 50 years – but due to the lack of recognition for same-sex couples in Pennsylvania, came up with a novel plan to gain legal protections.
In 2000, Mr MacArthur ‘adopted’ Mr Novak, in order to ensure that the pair had some legal rights in the eyes of the law.
MacArthur explained to AP: “We were told when we started to look into this that hell would freeze over before Pennsylvania allowed same-sex marriage.
“So doing the adoption was literally the only thing we could do to give legal underpinning to our relationship.”
However, as same-sex marriage is now legal in the state, the couple fought to have the adoption dissolved so they could marry instead.
In a rare order earlier this month, Judge Gary B Gilman of Bucks County Orphans’ Court agreed to vacate the adoption decree – paving the way for the couple to wed.
MacArthur continued: “The courtroom burst into applause. I burst into tears.
“They were certainly happy tears. After months of investigating ways that we could do this and finally having the decision coming down in our favor, I’m still walking 3 feet above the ground.”
The pair have now tied the knot, changing their legal relationship from father and son to husband and husband.
