Source: The Age, Times (London)
BRITAIN has forged landmark new rights for lesbian or gay partners seeking legal recognition as parents.
The House of Commons unexpectedly threw out proposals that would have required fertility clinics to consider a child's "need for a father" before providing treatment, enabling two-mother families.
The father's role will now be substituted to require the "need for supportive parenting". Both partners will be recognized as parents on birth certificates when lesbian couples conceive with donated sperm or when gay men use surrogacy to have a child.
At present only the natural mother or father is automatically considered to be a parent when homosexual couples have fertility treatment.
The changes will be made to the controversial Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill, which governs stem cell research as well as fertility treatments and abortion in Britain.
The Government had been prepared for defeat but won the free votes by majorities of 75 and 68. The decisions mean that the legislation will grant the most significant extension to homosexual family rights since gay adoption was sanctioned.
It will stop fertility clinics turning away lesbians and single women because their children will not have a father or male role model. While the current law does not block such therapy, it is sometimes used to justify refusals.
Proposed "pro-family" amendments, including a Conservative bid to lower the abortion limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks, were defeated by a large margin, surprising the Labour Government, which had been prepared, publicly and privately, for a major defeat.
The attempt to ensure the legal need for a father in fertility treatment was rejected by 292 votes to 217, a majority of 75.
A Times/Populus poll last month found that 40 per cent of people were against the Government's proposals and 32 per cent in favor. It also revealed a generational divide: while over-55s were strongly opposed, 18 to 34-year-olds were strongly in favor of reform.
Full article: UK vote marks parenthood victory for gays | The Age
Women win right to children without fathers | Times (London)
Last modified: 21 May 08 05:05
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