Wednesday, September 8, 2004

The Australian - "Gays hit by society not mum and dad" by Michael Bachelard

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THE main damage to children of lesbian and gayparents or people born of surrogates came not from their parents , but from society's prejudices.

The Victorian Government's Law Reform Commission report has found that ``overt prejudice'' from ``politicians, religious leaders, friends and even relatives'' was the factor most likely to harm children of unconventional relationships.

University of Melbourne academic Ruth McNair found that families created by artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilisation and surrogacy were, if anything, internally happier than other families.

``Mothers express more warmth toward their child, mothers and fathers are more emotionally involved and interact more with their child ... (and) children report less parental criticism than natural or adoptive children.''

In ``stark contrast'', the negatives come from outside: people who use donated eggs or sperm, surrogate mothers, who are gay, lesbian or infertile are ``all stigmatised'', Dr McNair found.

People in these categories had less support from extended family or society, were less likely to obtain information about self-insemination and were at risk of infection, and their children were subject to bullying and isolation at school.

She also found that children of lesbian or gay parents were no more likely to be homosexual themselves, but they were more likely to experiment with same-sex partners.

The state Law Reform Commission is examining the law surrounding these issues, including whether it should more easily allow women who are not biologically infertile but who are not in heterosexual relationships, access to reproductive technology.

It is also examining whether the children of donor sperm or eggs should be able to identify their biological parents. Dr McNair said secrecy surrounding the identity of donors was ``one of the most significant'' problems such children faced. Children should be told the truth well before puberty, and given the option of developing a relationship with the donor.

She said gay and lesbian parents tended to be much more open than heterosexual parents.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2004

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy - "Lesbian parenting: insiders' voices" by Ruth McNair, Amaryll Perlesz

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Lesbian parenting has entered the public arena over recent years via debates regarding access to fertility services and adoption, legal recognition of same-sex parents and children's rights (McNair, 2002). Research in the area has been published for over 20 years, with an increasing shift towards delineating diversity rather than proving the legitimacy of these families. The ANZJFT - the major mouthpiece for Australian family therapists - has made curiously little contribution to the literature on lesbian parenting. The lack of discussion leaves trainees and family therapists largely ignorant about the lived experience of lesbian family life. This paper goes some way to filling this gap. We present data gathered from 151 Australian lesbian parents who answered questions about their own and their families' perceived strengths. Despite the constraints and challenges of living within a heteronormative and homophobic society and dealing with discrimination and legal, political and social non-legitimation, this group of lesbian parents expressed great pride in raising welladjusted and happy children. They also described their families as thoughtfully planned, proud, accepting and celebratory of diversity and difference, flexible in gender roles, and as having interesting, supportive, extended kinship networks that included a wide range of positive role models for their children. (Journal abstract)

[Source: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy v.25 no.3 Sept 2004: 129-140]
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Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Hume Moreland Leader - "Gays urged to consider being foster carers" by Isabella Shaw

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GAY people can be caring parents and should be encouraged to become foster carers, a Hume agency worker says.

Donna Zander, manager of out-of-home care at Orana Family Services in Meadow Heights, says the recent furore surrounding the ABC's airing of a Playschool segment depicting two mums taking their daughter to the zoo highlighted public perceptions of parenting.

Ms Zander said Orana and other foster care agencies she knew of had several gay carers on their books.

The services all focused on the child and their needs ``regardless of the configuration of the family type''.

``We (Orana) have no hesitation whatsoever towards assessing somebody that is currently in a gay relationship or has been in a gay relationship or is intending to be or is a single gay person it is an irrelevant factor for us,'' she said.

``Obviously we would be looking at the match of the child to that relationship or to that person, just as we would around a whole range of other factors.

``They would go through the exact same selection process like anybody else to ensure that the child would be cared for in a safe and appropriate environment.

``When you think about what children actually need boundaries, love, structure, routine, consistency and a safe environment to me the sexuality of the person is irrelevant.''

Ms Zander said same-sex couples had limited options when it came to parenting.

``But foster care is one option and I believe a very good one,'' she said.

``Peter'', who did not want his real name used, is a 43-year-old single gay man living in Melbourne's north.

For the past eight years he has offered respite care to a mildly autistic boy.

Peter, who has a counselling background, is a registered carer for foster care agencies including Orana, Interchange North West, Berry St and Anglicare.

Over the eight years Peter said he would have opened his home to more than 20 children needing short-term care.

He said his sexuality had never been an issue when registering as a carer, a situation he applauded.

``I pour my heart and soul into these kids,'' he said. ``If you are willing to look after a child, and have got a clean background, it (sexuality) is nobody's business but your own.'' Foster Care Association of Victoria Centre president Janice Hughes said the centre's board had formally discussed the issue and it was ``perfectly happy'' with gay foster carers.

``To me it isn't about individuality as such it doesn't matter whether someone is grey or black or green or have got spiky hair or rings in their noses or painted fingernails or anything like that,'' she said.

For more information on becoming a carer, phone Orana on 9351 1311.
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Thursday, June 3, 2004

The Age - "Concern over 'Gay School" by Anna Krien

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A popular children's show has a story to tell and it's not making some government ministers gay or happy.

The ABC's show, Play School, on Monday aired the story of a little girl and her two "mums" to its young viewers .

"I'm Brenna. That's me in the blue. My mums are taking me and my friend Meryn to an amusement park," the little girl says over images of her two mums smiling and waving.

Play School's 'Through the windows' segment usually explores families from different ethnic, social and religious backgrounds.

But the broadcaster's attempt to portray gay relationships - not often in children's literature and television programming - has sparked a backlash.

Children's Minister Larry Anthony said he fears the ABC was becoming too politically correct.

"I think it's important for those program producers to ensure they are not just responding to minorities," he said.

"I think Play School has been an excellent program but I wouldn't like to see it become politically correct."

Communications Minister Daryl Williams also had concerns, asking ABC managing director Russell Balding they be passed on to the board.

"The government understands that parents would expect a program like Play School to deal with issues which are appropriate for the age of its audience," Mr Williams said.

"In particular, Australian parents should be able to choose when to explain concepts such as same-sex couples to their young children," he said.

But Tracey Cocks, one of over fifty members in the Lesbian Mothers & their Children Playgroup, praised Play School for its 'controversial' move.

"You really feel it when television show families of various ethnicities and localities, but no same-sex parent families," she said.

Miss Cocks shares the upbringing of her three-year-old daughter with her lesbian partner and two fathersl.

"We haven't found any discrimination at all, if anything our daughter is someone to be jealous of at kindergarden. Once a child with a single parent complained 'Why don't I have a dad when she has two of each?"'

Bill Muehlenberg from the Australian Family Association said he was outraged that Play School didn't issue a warning prior to screening the segment.

"The show pushed the message that all relationships are equal. That there is nothing special about the mother and father," said Mr Muehlenberg, adding that the ABC had no right to push its social agenda on to children.

Other 'Through the window' segments have explored a child's christening, a Muslim family, and a child as bridesmaid at her grandmother's wedding.

But Mr Muehlenberg said he drew the line at "sexual preferences and alternative lifestyles".

"I don't see anything wrong with something as innate as race... Now this is a different kettle of fish," he said.

Australian Democrats senator Brian Greig said the ABC had a mandate to reflect modern life and culture.

"Gay and lesbian taxpayers, who pay their eight cents a day to the ABC, have a right to have their family structure seen in local content just like everybody else," he said.

"I would hate to see us turn the clock back to a time where minorities were censored from Australian television as Aborigines and Asians and people with disabilities were once excluded from representation on TV."

ABC's Children's programmer Claire Henderson denied was any emphasis of focus placed on any social issue.

"Any such constructions are adult constructions," she said.

Back in Fitzroy, Tracey Cocks agreed. "It's not a big deal for little kids. It's just the adults who have a problem with us," she said.

Gay activists lauded the ABC, saying it was Play School's role to educate children about their world.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said for an increasing number of Australian children, their world included gay parents or friends with gay parents.

"The ABC has a responsibility to represent Australian society as it is, not as the government might want it to be," he said in a statement.

"Responsible and effective children's programming does not wrap children up in cotton wool. It educates and informs children in a way which helps them develop intellectually and emotionally."

- with AAP

[Link: Original Article]
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Thursday, May 27, 2004

The Age - "Howard a dinosaur, says gay couple" by AAP

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One of Australia's highest-profile gay couples described John Howard as a dinosaur and likened his vision of Australia to apartheid-era South Africa or Adolf Hitler's Germany.

Former Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Kerryn Phelps also accused the prime minister of playing "wedge politics" by legislating to stop gays from marrying or adopting children from overseas.

And she predicted a "massive" voter backlash at this year's federal election.

Her partner Jackie Stricker said: "It makes me feel as if I'm living either in South Africa or Hitler's Germany, to be honest with you.

"If you keep trying to marginalise and discriminate against one group, it's a real worry living in a country that does that."

Dr Phelps and Ms Stricker, whose 1998 Jewish wedding ceremony in New York has no legal foundation in Australia, said they felt insulted and outraged by the Howard government's move.

"For God's sake, what is the matter with this man?" asked Ms Stricker.
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"The longer he stays in power, the more I fear whether there's some sort of 1950s prejudice - the wife in apron and patting all the children on the head and keeping all the pretence going.

"It's a joke because gay women are going out there and having their own babies anyway.

"So he's antediluvian, quite frankly. He doesn't make himself look like anything other than a dinosaur."

Ms Stricker said gay women were the largest growing group of foster parents in NSW.

"They're allowed to take other people's mistakes but he's trying to stop them from being able to adopt," she said.

She said all Australians were supposed to be equal under the law - "except if you're gay".

Dr Phelps, an Australia Day ambassador, said the idea that every citizen had the same rights and responsibilities was "a complete bald-faced lie".

She said there was "absolutely no evidence whatsoever" to support the argument that it was best for children to have a mother and a father, rather than same-sex parents.

[Link: Original Article]
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Monday, March 8, 2004

The Age - "Howard slams ACT gay adoption law"

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Prime Minister John Howard has spoken out against an ACT law which allows homosexual couples to adopt children.

Federal cabinet was reported to be considering overturning the law, which was passed last month by the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The federal parliament has the power to override territory laws and in 1997 overturned a Northern Territory law which legalised voluntary euthanasia.

Mr Howard said he did not support the ACT gay adoption law.

"I don't support gay adoption, no," Mr Howard told the John Laws radio program.

"I'm against gay adoption, just as I'm against gay marriage.

"I think there are certain benchmark institutions and arrangements in our society that you don't muck around with.

"Children ideally should be brought up by a mother and a father who are married. That's the ideal."

Mr Howard said he knew unmarried couples could be good and loving parents, but the best conditions for children were to be raised by married parents.

"I believe in the maximum conditions of stability for people who have children," he said.

"I think it is incredibly important that people have role models of both sexes."

Mr Howard has previously written to the ACT's Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope expressing concerns about gay adoption and the territory's bill of rights.

Mr Stanhope said he believed Mr Howard was bluffing and would not intervene to overturn ACT laws.

"I can't believe that the prime minister would seriously think it appropriate for the Commonwealth to intervene in the ACT's affairs to overturn some fairly basic human rights legislation," Mr Stanhope told ABC radio.

Federal Labor leader Mark Latham has said he will oppose any move to overturn the gay adoption law.

[Link: Original Article]
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The Age - "PM condemns ACT gay adoptions laws" by AAP

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Prime Minister John Howard today condemned Australia's first laws which will allow gay couples to adopt children.

He said the new ACT laws were an example of political correctness, but said children should ideally be raised by a married mother and father.

The new laws in the ACT are part of a new ACT Bill of Rights.

But federal cabinet is expected to examine the laws and to decide whether or not the federal government should intervene and have them overturned.

Federal parliament has previously used its constitutional powers to overturn the Northern Territory laws on voluntary euthanasia.

Mr Howard said he had examined the ACT laws and said he opposed any bill of rights, as it could lead to limits on individual freedoms.

"I think the idea of the ACT having a bill of rights is ridiculous. If you're going to have things like that, they should be done on a nationwide basis," he told the John Laws radio program.

"This is political correctness inside the Labor Party parading itself for all the world to see."

He said he did not support gay adoptions.

"I don't support gay adoption, no," Mr Howard said.

"I'm against gay adoption, just as I'm against gay marriage.

"I think there are certain benchmark institutions and arrangements in our society that you don't muck around with.

"Children ideally should be brought up by a mother and a father who are married. That's the ideal."

Mr Howard said he knew unmarried couples could be good and loving parents, but the best conditions for children were to be raised by married parents.

"I believe in the maximum conditions of stability for people who have children," he said.

"I think it is incredibly important that people have role models of both sexes."

[Link: Original Article]
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Tuesday, February 3, 2004

The Age - "Gay 'husbands' to test their marriage in court " by Farah Farouque

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In a legal first, two Melbourne gay men who married in Canada are planning to apply to the Australian courts to have their union recognised at home.

Jason McCheyne and Adrian Tuazon, both Australian citizens, flew to Canada last month and exchanged wedding rings and vows in a civil ceremony at Toronto's city hall.

Mr McCheyne, 33, and Mr Tuazon, 30, are now preparing to mount a court challenge, probably in the Family Court, to have their same-sex marriage validated in Australia.

The Brunswick couple, who identify themselves as Christians, say they are not "radical political activists".

Until they met met six years ago, neither had "come out" as a homosexual. But now they are determined to achieve formal recognition of their union and refer to each other as "my husband".

"We see marriage as a lifetime commitment - just like everyone else," Mr McCheyne told The Age. "We are a family now. We are very traditional in that sense."

The couple, who plan to have children, say they want be considered equal to their heterosexual married friends. "We wanted to marry both as a statement to ourselves and to the community," said Mr Tuazon.

Although gay couples now hold their own informal "commitment ceremonies", Australian law makes no provision for same-sex marriage.

Prime Minister John Howard is strongly opposed to the idea, and the ALP has also shelved an amendment to the party's platform that would have given gay unions equal legal status to married heterosexual couples.

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, who is gay and supports same-sex marriage, wished the men well in their legal challenge.

Mr McCheyne and Mr Tuazon married in Toronto in the province of Ontario, where courts ratified same-sex marriages in June last year. As there are no residency requirements, gay couples from around the world are flocking to Canada to achieve their marital ambitions.

A Melbourne-based lesbian couple, Jacqui Tomlins and Sarah Nichols, believe they were the first Australians to take advantage of the laws when they married in August last year.

"Our wedding was held at a lakeside cottage just north of Toronto, the service performed by a Unitarian minister," Ms Tomlins said.

"We had vows, betrothal, signing, exchange of rings, food and Australian wine, speeches, dancing, two brides on the wedding cake, and registered with David Jones bridal service."

The validity of overseas gay marriages has not yet been tested in the Australian courts.

Family law expert Professor Regina Graycar, of Sydney University, said: "I wouldn't be so confident that a court would recognise such marriages, but I wouldn't rule it out."

Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor David McCarthy acknowledged that it was a "grey area", but the group supported the move to have overseas marriages recognised. "It's a battle that has to be had," he said.

Bill Muehlenberg, of the Australian Family Association, said validating gay unions would "radically revolutionise" marriage. "If we gave in on this one, we might as well give the whole game away," he said.

Mr McCheyne and Mr Tuazon, with their matching white gold bands, naturally beg to differ.

[Link: Original Article]
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Sunday, February 1, 2004

VAFT News - "How the issue of lesbian and gay parenting is addressed in family reports" by Eve Tauber

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This article reports on research which examined whether children of gay and lesbian parents are disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to the children of heterosexual parents. Previous research has indicated that lesbian and gay parents often go to great lengths to be parents, and portrays a picture of families thriving, even in the midst of discrimination. The main findings of the present research indicate that there is no evidence linking homosexuality with abuse or poor outcomes for children.

[Source: VAFT News (Victorian Association of Family Therapists) v.26 no.1 Feb 2004: 5-6]
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