Latest news with #sameSexParents
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
30 Same-Sex Couples Raising Kids Get Candid About Their Experience in New Study
A new Pew Research study shares a glimpse at what life is like for same-sex parents raising kids. Researchers spoke with 30 gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults currently raising children with a same-sex partner. According to the Pew, fewer than 1% of parents in the United States are married to or living with a same-sex spouse or partner. To better understand their experiences as parents, researchers spoke with a variety of families, and many shared that they feel like any 'typical' family—trying to juggle it all. Although some of the same-sex couples they interviewed also reported dealing with expensive paths to parenthood, as well as uncertainty amidst current political turmoil. The research was not intended to represent all LGBTQ+ people, but it provides rare, valuable insight into what parenting as a same-sex couple is like today. Interesting learnings from the study included details on the emotional and logical challenges same-sex couples may face when trying to become parents, including reproductive challenges, financial stresses, and popular misconceptions about same-sex parenting. Many couples say their lives are pretty similar to everyone else's. One mom said she and her family 'live a very, very typical life. It's just us being two women who are married and raising beautiful, wonderful kids.' However, some parents flagged that they've had challenges when explaining to their children why their family is different and why some people may not accept them. The study notes that 'a few' parents said their children can be cautious when sharing about their family. Parents also shared their feelings on the current political climate; some said they've 'discussed' leaving the country, while others mentioned pursuing second-parent adoption to ensure their rights are not taken away. Despite everything, parents still have hope that things will change and that all families can thrive in the future. Same-sex parents may face expensive, and sometimes unexpected, financial and legal roadblocks when trying to start or grow their family. For families with biological children, this can include assisted reproduction, like IUI, IVF, and surrogacy. Other families go the adoption route, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process as well. One parent interviewed said her journey to parenthood took 'nearly a decade,' while others mentioned some agencies refused to work with same-sex parents. Finances also play a major factor, whether that's paying for fertility treatments, reproductive procedures like IUI, surrogacy, or dealing with insurance—not to mention legal fees. One father in his 50s said the road to parenthood cost him $200,000—something he would not have been able to afford in his younger years. The legalities of adoption and surrogacy vary from state to state, which can complicate things for parents. According to Eric Wrubel, a partner at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas, LLP in New York who handles family law, the adoption process is 'rigorous' yet 'generally easy' for heterosexual couples or single parents looking to adopt. But things can be more complex for same-sex parents."Even today, gay and lesbian couples face discrimination when seeking to find a child to adopt, working with an agency to find a birth mother, and even in their selection by a birth mother to be the adoptive parents of her child."'Even today, gay and lesbian couples face discrimination when seeking to find a child to adopt, working with an agency to find a birth mother, and even in their selection by a birth mother to be the adoptive parents of her child,' he shares. 'Even after a child is born and received into the home of his or her adoptive parents, the adoption must be judged by a court. Accordingly, bias in the form of delays, review of submissions, and outright denial of the adoption can occur—thereby placing continued hurdles in the adoption process for LGBTQ adoptive parents.' The path to surrogacy is marked by similar legal hoops to jump through. Janene Oleaga, a fertility attorney practicing in New York, Maine, and New Hampshire, says that while some states allow same-sex couples to be listed on the birth certificate through the surrogacy and parentage process, others only allow the genetic parent. This means the non-genetic parent must adopt the child. According to John Nachlinger, a New Jersey-based family law attorney and an LGBTQ+ parent of an adopted child, 'family law was designed for a traditional mold—one mom, one dad, one home.' Though efforts have been made to modernize it, 'many policies still reflect outdated assumptions about what constitutes a 'real' family, and current political initiatives are making things worse—restricting funding to organizations that recognize only heterosexual marriages and treating same-sex families as inferior.' According to Nachlinger, even if same-sex parents are married and both are listed on the birth certificate, they should still go through the second-parent adoption process because having a legal framework to define your relationship with the child is crucial. One study participant said that even though her wife donated her embryo, because she didn't physically give birth to the child, she was not listed as the mother on the child's birth certificate, and thus had to go through second-parent adoption. 'Adoptions are recognized in every state and in most other countries in the world, even if same-sex marriage is not,' Nachlinger explains. 'If the Supreme Court decides to end the right to marry everywhere in the United States, these adoption judgments will be critical to protect families.' Whether it's friends or family—or a combination of both—many parents interviewed said their community was essential to family life. Some parents have supportive parents and siblings who are involved in their children's lives, while others recounted friction with family members with different political or religious views, with a few saying family members had 'disowned' them for their sexuality. Others shouted out their friends as key members of their parenting village. 'Our tribe, our village, our squad, whatever word you want to use. They swooped in immediately between dropping clothes off, dropping supplies off, the minute we got the call,' recounted a father. 'And that has brought a sense of gratitude that I had never felt before.' Parents also mentioned finding community with same-sex parents online or in their city or state, as well as increasing their advocacy work to support LGBTQ+ children and families. 'Becoming a parent definitely shifted my focus and [made me] want to fight to make sure that we have our rights [so that] my daughter grows up in a world where she feels protected and seen and not different, shared one father. Read the original article on Parents
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tom Daley reveals a stranger once asked if he needed help changing his son's nappy as he opens up about the assumed incompetence male same-sex parents face
Tom Daley has revealed he was once asked by a stranger if he needed help changing his son's nappy as he opened up about the assumed incompetence that male same-sex parents face. The retired diver, 31, shares sons Phoenix, two, and Robbie Ray, six, with his screenwriter husband Dustin Lance Black, 50. They met in 2013 and wed two years later before welcoming their little ones who were sweetly seen supporting Tom poolside at the Paris 2024 Olympics last year. But in a new interview he has touched on how two dads often feel like they have to 'overachieve'. He told The Times: 'When you're same-sex parents, you feel as though you have to, again, overachieve. Someone asked if I wanted them to change Robbie's nappy for me. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'You don't want people to judge you. Because it matters to us so much, and we really care that we're doing the best job that we can.' In the interview he also spoke about first meeting Dustin, revealing that they named their future children on their first date and said 'I love you' on their second. Before Dustin he had mostly dated women but never felt like he could 'fall in love' with them. He said: 'I'd been with girls for a very long time and so I had felt as though, if I really wanted to, I could suppress [my sexuality]. 'But after meeting Lance I was, like, oh maybe this 'conflicted' thing isn't just sexual. It was actually what my heart wanted as well.' On Valentine's Day 2018, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child on Instagram. Their first child Robert Ray Black-Daley was born June 27, 2018. Tom and Dustin welcomed their second son with an official announcement in the Times on April 5, 2023, reading: 'Black-Daley on 28th March to Thomas Robert Daley and Dustin Lance Black, a son, Phoenix Rose.' Last year Dustin shared a heartfelt tribute to his 'warrior' husband To m after he announced his retirement from diving following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Tom claimed a silver medal in the synchronized 10-metre platform with Noah Williams to complete his set of medals, following a gold in Tokyo and three other bronze medals. He had originally left open the possibility of competing at a sixth Games in Los Angeles – where he lives – in 2028. But Britain's most successful diver then confirmed he retiring, 16 years after making his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old in Beijing. After his partner Dustin has shared a gallery of snaps of Tom, reflecting on his 'magnificent journey' as he 'hung up his trunks' for good. The pair, who met in 2013 and tied the knot four years later, looked considerably younger in some photos together as they posed with Tom's medals. Dusting wrote: 'It has been the honour of my life to be by your side on this magnificent journey, Tom. You are a shining example that true warriors can also have true hearts. 'As you now hang up your trunks, I will deeply miss supporting your 'impossible' diving dreams in whatever small ways I could over the past 10+ years, and screaming like a mad man as you turned every single one of those dreams into reality. 'I also feel certain you have a long list of new 'impossible' dreams, and I will be there by your side all the way, baby. 'For now, I am going to look back with joy and love (and more than a few tears) at some old photos of the early days when I first had the tremendous good fortune to witness a warrior fight to achieve the 'impossible.' 'You did it, Tom. You did it all. I love you so much.' Re-sharing a video of Tom getting emotional while discussing his retirement, Dustin penned: 'I love this huge hearted warrior so much. 'Oh sweet Tom. I will miss supporting your diving dreams in whatever small ways I could and screaming at the top of my lungs as you turned everyone of your dreams into reality. 'But I also feel certain you have a long list of new 'impossible' dreams and it will be my honour to keep cheering you on at every magnificent turn'. Dustin also shared a snap of the 'first competition' he attended to support Tom and thanked him for letting him be a 'small part' of his journey. He added: 'From one of the first competitions I ever got to attend. It will take a long while to sink in that this spectacular sporting journey of yours has found its ending. 'But what an incredible ride it has been. Thank you for letting me be a small part of it. Truly the honour of a lifetime'. Following competing at the Olympics, Tom told Vogue: 'It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive. 'But I have to make the decision at some point, and it feels like the right time to call it a day. 'I've spent my whole life doing this and being able to let go of it is going to be hard. It's going to be a major adjustment. 'I would love for people to remember me for being a person that persevered, who persisted and didn't give up on his dream until he was able to achieve it. 'To currently be Britain's most decorated diver, I feel so incredibly proud. When I look back, I'm really, genuinely satisfied with what I've done.' Daley, who has two children, stayed at the Olympics after his diving event to do punditry for Eurosport and now wants to pursue more TV work.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Italy's court says 2 mothers can register as parents on birth certificates
Sculptures are seen atop the Constitutional Court building near the Quirinale presidential palace in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, April 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File) ROME — Italy's Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that two women can register as parents of a child on a birth certificate, saying recognition of parental rights cannot be restricted to the biological mother in families with same-sex parents. Advocates for 2SLGBTQ+ rejoiced at the ruling, while the association Pro Life and Family denounced it as sending thousands of children born to same-sex parents into 'an existential joke.' The court ruled that it was unconstitutional for city registers to deprive children born to same sex-parents of recognition by both the biological mother and the woman who consented to the medically assisted pregnancy and assumed parental responsibilities. In recent years, some city registrars had begun to record only the name of the biological mother on birth certificates, and not the name of her partner. In order to have legal rights and responsibility over the child, the non-biological mother then had to 'adopt' the child. A 2004 law had provided for such limited parental recognition. But thanks to an Interior Ministry circular in 2023, the restrictions were being enforced anew as part of the policy of the far-right-led government of Premier Giorgia Meloni to crack down on surrogacy and promote traditional family values. The ruling does not address the legality of medically assisted procreation: Italy has strong restrictions on IVF and has had a ban on surrogacy since 2004. Last year Italy expanded the ban to criminalize Italians who go abroad to have children through surrogacy. The Associated Press
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
We conceived our baby with a Calpol syringe but can't both be on the birth certificate, so we're starting a petition
Sarah Bull, Digital Senior Reporter Published: Invalid Date, A COUPLE who conceived their baby with a Calpol syringe have been left fuming after being told they can't both be on the birth certificate. Kerry and Anna welcomed daughter Ezmai in March, after enlisting the help of a friend to be a sperm donor. 2 They've been documenting their journey on their social media pages, but caused controversy with a recent video, in which they were seen taking their newborn to officially register her name. However, they were stunned to find out that they couldn't both have their names as the parents on Ezmai's birth certificate. "We thought we'd come on for a little bit of a rant because we think it's really disgusting that Kerry is not allowed on the birth certificate, even though we were together when we conceived her," Anna said in a video on her TikTok page. "And the only reason she's not allowed on it is because 1, we're not married and 2, because we didn't spend thousands in a clinic." "Which one's better? Using a donor that you actually know, or just using someone random that you don't even know?" Kerry chimed in. "She might not have provided the stuff guys, but I used the syringe so technically I impregnated her!" "It's true, it's true," Anna said. "I think we should all sign a petition to get this over with, so same sex men, same sex females, whoever want to have a baby together, should be able to do it," she continued. "And it shouldn't be an issue. Do you know what I mean?" Kerry could be heard crying in the background as Anna said: "If you're together when you conceive and you plan to conceive together, you should be that parent. A Miracle Baby Story "I mean look at all the parents out there, right? Our kids for example, their dads have nothing to do with them. "But they're allowed on the birth certificate. "Where Kerry's here, does everything for me, and we have to fight for it. "I think it's absolutely disgusting. "So if you guys know how to start a petition or anything like that, please let me know because we are so disgusted with this right now." However, people in the comments section were quick to insist the pair should have known the law about who could go on the birth certificate before going to the registry office. " Biologically she isn't the baby's parent so why would she go on the birth certificate?" one wrote. "What did you expect????" another added. "I'm confused. She's not the father!" "Everybody knows you have to be married to be on the birth certificate. It's not new," a third sighed. "Go to the registry office tomorrow, get married then go register," someone else commented. "Birth certificate has nothing todo with who is the 'parent', it is about who biologically made you," another said, alongside a rolling eyes emoji.
