Gay & Lesbian Parents
Children from gay or lesbian parents may sometimes experience discrimination, the same as other minority groups face. Within schools teachers need to be diligent about protecting children from unfair treatment and bullying, as this can lead to low self-esteem if not handled correctly.
Fortunately schools are becoming more aware of the difficulties that children experience and are recognizing the importance of controlling bullying however this is something that can happen to any child, throughout their childhood regardless of their family dynamics.
Gay rights group Stonewall has produced a new guide for lesbians wanting to have children. The free booklet, called Pregnant Pause, has practical advice and legal information on the current rights of lesbian parents.
The requirement that fertility clinics consider ‘the need for a father’ will be replaced with ‘the need for supportive parenting’ from 1 October 2009. This means health professionals can no longer refuse to treat female same-sex couples and single women.
When a lesbian couple has a child, the non-birth mother no longer has to adopt the child in order to be named joint legal guardian on the birth certificate. If the couple are married, or are conceiving via a licensed fertility clinic, both parents will automatically have legal parental responsibility as parents.
The guide, produced by Stonewall, can be downloaded from the Stonewall website.
Related Articles:
Effects of gay parenting on children
LGBT Co-parenting
Adoption
Fostering