First Same-Sex Couple To Be Granted Parentage In Queensland, Australia

13.12.2010

Brisbane couple Bentley and Matt Harris legally became the parents of six-month-old Connor in September, the first couple to do so since new altruistic surrogacy laws were introduced in July.

As Parliament was split during the vote on the legislation, so was the community yesterday on seeing the law put into effect.

Queensland Association for Healthy Communities general manager Paul Martin said the couple's feat would inspire many.

"Many gay and lesbian couples have the same desires to have a family and a partner and be married as anyone else does," Mr Martin said.

"It's evidence of the continuing journey towards equality for same-sex couples in Queensland and we welcome that."

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DMr Martin said there was still a long way to go.

But Family Council of Queensland spokesman Dr David van Gend condemned the new laws.

"Premier Anna Bligh's surrogacy law has allowed two men to bring a baby boy into the world fully intending that this baby will never have a mother," Dr van Gend said.

"That shameful act violates the child's fundamental right to enter the world as all of us did - with at least the possibility of a mum and dad in our lives."

Dr van Gend claimed the child had been deprived of a mother by the state but denied his opinions were motivated by an objection to homosexuality.

"We would oppose even a pair of celibate monks obtaining a child by surrogacy. The point is not that the men are sexually involved, the point is that neither of the men can be a mother to a little boy."

Fledgling Queensland Party leader Aidan McLindon vowed to repeal legislation he said treated children like commodities.

"Every child that changes hands under these surrogacy laws will lose its mother and will suffer from a list of unintended consequences as a result," he said.

Mr McLindon said the laws were a legal nightmare which did not take the child into account.

"What happens if the potential surrogate parents change their mind halfway through a pregnancy," he said.

"The whole concept is complete madness. It's nothing less than a selfish business transaction with no regard for the child."

Mr Martin said the argument that the child would be deprived of a female role model was simply wrong.

"I presume they've (Bentley and Matt Harris) got mothers and grandmothers and probably sisters and female friends and when the kid grows up and goes to kindy, the child is going to have lots of female teachers," he said.

"The sense that the only place you can get a gender role model from a parent just doesn't make sense.

"To follow that argument, if same-sex couples aren't allowed to raise a child then does that mean every other type of family relationship that isn't a biological male and female raising their children shouldn't be allowed as well."

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