Australia

The Daily Telegraph newspaper in New South Wales, Australia has reported that a gay couple has had the ban on them becoming foster parents overturned and have been awarded $10000 compensation. The story appeared in the Daily Telegraph by Bruce McDougall.

[ More Australian Gay Parenting News available at http://gaydadsaustralia.blogspot.com ]

A GAY couple have won a landmark discrimination case after they were banned from becoming foster parents because they are homosexual.

Children born through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to lesbian mothers will have the same rights as those of heterosexual couples, under law changes announced by the NSW government.

Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said he had accepted NSW Law Reform recommendations extending "parental presumption" provisions to cover gay mums.

It was estimated 20 per cent of the state's female same-sex couples had children, Mr Hatzistergos said.

The change affects those born through IVF or artificial fertilisation only, by granting parenting rights and obligations to the non-biological mother.

Hi from Australia. Late last year (2007) we worked with National Geographic in Australia to present a story of how we (Rodney and Jeff) became dads to a wonderful baby boy called Ethan.

You can view it on You Tube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSayHl535HE

The Sydney Morning Herald recently informed its readers about the evolution of gay families in Australia. The number of lesbian and gay parents is increasing there and elsewhere - and the families are showing the world we can be outstanding guides and role models for our children.

Herald writer, Louise Hall, tells the story of nine-year-old Qona, a little girl born via artificial insemination. She has two lesbian moms and one gay dad.

"We call ourselves a family," said Qona's dad, Mark Harrigan (pictured with Qona).

In his first blog post, Proud Parenting member - rodneycruise - introduces his partner Jeff and their son Ethan.

The family lives in Richmond, Victoria - in Australia - and the two fathers run a website called Gay Dads Australia.

GDA is a site that supports gay men who are planning on, or who are already parents. It includes active discussion lists and calendars - to keep members informed of events in and around Victoria and New South Wales.

Author Theresa Miller, explores IVF and other assisted-reproduction techniques happening in Australia in her new book, "Making Babies - personal IVF stories". She offers 14 personal accounts from single mothers, and couples - both gay and straight. Each person interviewed for the book has been affected by the possibilities that are offered by in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Southwest Airlines is "the airline of gay and lesbian San Francisco," for at least one year. The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau and Southwest want to increase the number of gay and lesbian travelers visiting the city, so the $180,000 tourism campaign will focus on advertising and marketing - including ticket giveaways.