Florida must recognize out-of-state adoptions by gay couples even though its laws ban such adoptions, a state appeals court in Lakeland has ruled.

Sarasota Circuit Judge Donna Berlin erred when she wouldn’t recognize a former lesbian couple’s adoptions when the women lived in Washington state, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled unanimously Wednesday.

Florida is the only state that prohibits all gays from adopting. But the judges said the U.S. Constitution requires the state to give “full faith and credit” to the actions of other states, and there is no public policy exception to that requirement.

While living as a couple in Seattle, Kimberly Ryan and Lara Embry each gave birth to a child. Each then adopted the other’s child as the second parent. They moved to Sarasota and later agreed to share custody when they split up.

Ryan became engaged to a man and cut off contact between her biological child and Embry, saying that under her new Christian beliefs she didn’t think the relationship was good for the child. Embry sued for custody.

The lower court sided with Ryan, ruling the Washington adoption had no legal standing because Florida bans gay adoption and marriage.

The decision written by Judge James Whatley said Embry “must be given the same rights as any other adoptive parent in Florida.” Judge Craig Villanti concurred.

Judge Carolyn Fulmer said in a specially concurring opinion that the same-sex relationship was irrelevant.

MR. WRIGHT: Once you had reason to suspect a student is possessing any contraband that poses a health and safety risk, then searching any place where that contraband may reasonably be found is constitutional, and --

JUSTICE SCALIA: Any contraband, like the black marker pencil that -- that astounded me. That was contraband in that school, wasn't it, a black marker pencil?

MR. WRIGHT: Well, for sniffing.

JUSTICE SCALIA: Oh, is that what they do?

MR. WRIGHT: It's a permanent marker.

JUSTICE SCALIA: They sniff them?

MR. WRIGHT: Well, that's the -- I mean, I'm a school lawyer. That's what kids do, Your Honor, unfortunately, Your Honor.

JUSTICE SCALIA: Really?

So sharpie-sniffers, see you all at the Love-In at Greynolds Park on Sunday, where you libertine tie-dyed hedonists can drive guys like George to step it up a notch and this time write a really controversial letter to the Florida Bar Journal.