Australian sperm donor's bid to be on birth certificate
A sperm donor at the centre of a recent landmark court case has said that he is determined to be named on his daughter’s birth certificate after the New South Wales Government announced last week that it will hold an inquiry examining the adequacy of listing only two parents on birth certificates.Sperm donor names
While donors have not been considered legal parents under state law since 1984, the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages currently has no provisions to record the names of sperm, egg or embryo donors.
Name removed from birth certificate
It follows on from the landmark case in August where a male sperm donor’s name was removed from his daughter’s birth certificate in preference for the mother’s female ex-partner, despite a close and long-term relationship with the child.
Same-sex laws
The judge in the case said although having “considerable sympathy” for the donor’s plight, a 2009 retrospective law in recognition of same-sex couples meant that the judge had to remove the man’s name.
Determined
The sperm donor (whose name cannot be published for legal reasons) has stated he is, “determined to do whatever is necessary” so that his name is also shown on his daughter’s birth certificate, in addition to the two mothers that she has.
Family law expert
Jenni Millbank, a leading family law expert, has advised for caution, stating that mandatory reporting of donor’s names on birth certificates could open up serious questions of privacy. “I think, for me, the real question is can we find a consensual and symbolic space on birth certificates to acknowledge genetic parents.”
LGBT community
Same-sex parent advocate Anthony Brien said that the inquiry provides an important chance for the LGBTIQ community to help create laws that will better suit their families while also perhaps providing better recognition of donors who have agreed to donate on the basis that they will be long-term parents.
Read more at: gaynewsnetwork.com.au