A Wisconsin appeals court ruled Thursday that a woman who has raised her children since infancy has no legal rights as their parent. Wendy (identified only by her first name in court records) split with her partner after adopting two children and raising them as a stay-at-home parent. Because Wendy’s partner, Liz, legally adopted the children, Wendy now has no legal rights as their guardian. Her petition for guardianship was rejected by the court.

Under Wisconsin law, a parent is defined as a biological or adoptive parent, and a same-sex couple cannot adopt a child together. Therefore, of all the families in Wisconsin that consist of a same-sex couple with children, half of those parents receive absolutely no legal recognition.