UK

A UK Catholic charity which wants exemption from equality laws which would force it to provide its adoption services to gay couples has had its latest appeal rejected. Catholic Care, which is based in the Diocese of Leeds, has spent more than two years arguing it will have to give up its work finding homes for children if it has to comply with recent equality regulations which prohibit discrimination against same-sex couples wanting to adopt.

Dr. Sheila Matthews (pictured) was dismissed from her role on an adoption panel over her religious-based belief that children should not be placed with same-sex couples, a tribunal has heard. Matthews sat on an adoption panel for Northamptonshire County Council.

She was removed from her job when she asked to abstain from voting in cases where gay couples were planning to adopt because of her religious beliefs.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) will be holding a three month public consultation to possibly change its policies on egg and sperm donations in the United Kingdom.

The major topic under consideration in the public consultation will be changing the policies regarding egg and sperm donor compensation. “Women who donate eggs are currently paid £250, but this could rise considerably under moves to address egg and sperm shortages at IVF clinics. Many fertility clinics have long waiting lists, driving some childless couples abroad.”

Last week in England the Charity Commission rejected a plea from Catholic Care, a Leeds based adoption group, to restrict adoption to only heterosexual couples. “Catholic Care sought an exclusion from the 2007 sexual orientation regulations and began legal action to change its constitution so it could continue helping married couples only. The commission initially refused to give its consent, but the charity won the right to appeal against its decision.”

This story from the United Kingdom is another reason why you need to do your research and make sure you understand the differences in the laws regarding infertility treatment before you decide to undergo treatment abroad.

A lesbian couple have become the first same-sex parents in Britain to jointly sign the birth certificate of their child. Natalie Woods and Betty Knowles countersigned the document after the birth of Lily-May Betty Woods. Lily-May was born after Woods from East Sussex became pregnant via a sperm donor.

From Telegraph.co.uk:

Stonewall - a major GLBT non-profit in the UK - has worked with Gamble and Ghevaert law firm to produce a guide to new laws on gay and lesbian parenting, called Parenthood for Same-Sex Couples.

The guide aims to provide information to service providers about the law on same-sex conception and parenting, including donor insemination [and the new legal rights for lesbian couples to be named on birth certificates], co-parenting arrangements, and international surrogacy for gay men.