LGBT family law presentation: Who’s your daddy?

In two days’ time I will be presenting about LGBT family law. The presentation is to the Australian Psychological Society Family Law and Psychology Interest Group. All are welcome.

I have found that one of the greatest difficulties with the law when acting for LGBT people is that the law can be confusing as to who is recognised as a parent, may be recognised for different purposes and in different ways.

Imagine for example a woman who lives with a transman (i.e. female to male), and they decide to have a baby. One might think that because they are in a loving relationship and have consciously made the decision to have a child that they will both be recognised as parents. The answer is a mess. For example the transman might be recognised as a woman under State law, under which he can then be named as a “parent” on the birth certificate, but not as the father. Under the Family Law Act he would be recognised as a “parent” irrespective of his gender, even though he might be considered for all purposes except for genetic purposes as a man.

This is but one small example of my talk.

The venue is in Melbourne, and the cost is $30.

For more details about the event: click here:  http://www.psychology.org.au/Events/EventView.aspx?EventID=11890