Callout for gay dads
Sunday March 6, 2016

Callout for gay dads

Sunday, March 06, 2016
Surrogacy in Australia is still a recent phenomenon.  Even though my first surrogacy case was as long ago as 1988, surrogacy in Australia really did not take off until about 2010, with law changes in the eastern States. The average surrogacy journey takes between 18 months and 2 years, and up to 4 years. In some States, there are very few surrogacies. For example, in Tasmania, there is only one known completed surrogacy through the IVF clinic. Research from a couple of years ago highlighted that for every domestic surrogacy, another 11 couples went overseas instead.

For fertility counsellors, this has been  for many a very steep learning curve. I am lucky that I deal with surrogacy cases day in, day out, from across the country and across the globe. Very few fertility counsellors have that day to day exposure to surrogacy and are learning as they are going.

Most fertility counsellors have had plenty of experience helping childless straight couples- but much less experience helping gay couples. This is no criticism of them, it’s just the nature of the territory and our changing world.

In June there will be a meeting in Brisbane for fertility counsellors, run by the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association. The organisor wants gay dads or gay intended dads- who have either completed, planned or intended to undertake the surrogacy journey-  to speak with the fertility counsellors at the meeting.

If you are interested, please email me at spage@harringtonfamilylawyers.com , and I’ll put you in contact with the organisor.

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Things to Read, Watch & Listen
Surrogacy for Gay Men in Australia: Legal Guide to Fatherhood

Can gay men really become fathers through surrogacy in Australia?

Yes. Surrogacy is a real, achievable pathway to fatherhood for gay men in Australia. The legal landscape and practical options have evolved significantly over the past few decades. With informed legal guidance and a clear plan, many gay couples and single men have successfully become parents through surrogacy. Why surrogacy is a viable option Surrogacy… Read More »Can gay men really become fathers through surrogacy in Australia?

ACT Surrogacy Law Changes: Landmark LGBTQ+ Parentage Win

A Landmark Win for LGBTQ+ Families in Australia!

A recent decision of the ACT Supreme Court confirmed that changes to the Parentage Act 2004 (ACT) enacted in 2024 can reach back to recognise certain surrogacy arrangements made before the law changed. The ruling allowed a gay couple to be declared the legal parents of a child born via a traditional surrogate who lived… Read More »A Landmark Win for LGBTQ+ Families in Australia!

What really happens inside the world's largest ethical surrogacy conference

What really happens inside the world’s largest ethical surrogacy conference?

When reproductive law meets lived experience, the conversation shifts from theory to practice. At the Society for Ethical Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS) conference in Orange County, California, nearly 400 professionals came together to do exactly that: talk candidly about how to make surrogacy and egg donation safer, fairer and ethically robust. The gathering offered… Read More »What really happens inside the world’s largest ethical surrogacy conference?

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