In some cases the adopters are not married. An im portant court decision in 1995 in New York held that a couple does not have to be married to adopt a child. Un der this ruling, unmarried heterosexual couples, lesbian couples, and gay male couples can all legally a chil dren in New York. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Judith Kaye argued that by expanding the boundaries of who can be legally recognized as parents, the state may be able to assist more children in securing"the best pos sible home." With this ruling, New York became the third state(after Vermont and Massachusetts) to recognize the right of unmarried couples to adopt children Dao 1995)