A HOMOSEXUAL couple has been granted leave to appear before the Family Court in a bid to gain access to a girl who isn't biologically related to either of them.

The men, who cannot be named, have successfully argued that they are important people in the life of the three-year-old.

The girl, who likewise cannot be named, was not conceived with sperm from either of the men. But her mother was, until last year, in a same-sex relationship with another woman who does have a child conceived with one of the men's sperm. ...

The magistrate accepted the mother's argument that she was "less committed to the non-traditional family arrangement enthusiastically embraced by her former partner". However, she said the mother had encouraged the men to have a relationship with her child while she was with the other woman.

She said the men were "publicly acknowledged as father figures" during the life of the relationship, while both women were the established "mother figures".

Those roles were acknowledged at a naming ceremony, where all four adults affirmed their commitment as "parents" of the child.

The men told the court they were involved in the parenting of both children. They attended the mother's 12-week pregnancy scan, and visited the hospital on the day of the child's birth. All four adults also attended annual gay pride parades, marching in the "family" section.

The men were introduced as "daddy" to friends and family, and were listed as emergency contacts at the child's daycare centre. ...

The child has been living with the four adults in three separate households since March.

Labels: Australia, de facto parenting, donor conception, gay parenting, motherhood

posted by Imapp Staff at 3:29 PM EMAIL SHARE PRINT

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