The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that France did not discriminate against a lesbian who was refused the right to adopt.

The woman sought to adopt her partner's daughter and become the girl's other legal parent. 

But French courts refused, citing a French law that says only married couples are allowed to follow this procedure. 

The couple appealed to the European court, based in Strasbourg, saying they were discriminated against because they are gay. But the court ruled Thursday, March 15 that all non-married couples in France—including homosexual and heterosexual ones in civil unions—face the same adoption restriction.