Gay man and lesbian couple in child custody battle
A lesbian and a gay man are fighting a custody battle over their two children who were conceived by artificial insemination.
The case is a legal first and will be heard by the highest civil judge in the country.
The lesbian mother had the two children, now aged seven and nine, after replying to an ad the man placed in Gay Times in 1999 which read:
"Gay guy wants to be a Dad. White, handsome, solvent 30s, professional, in happy relationship, non-scene, has everything but kids. Looking for a similar female couple who wants to have kids. I require little involvement. I have a lot to offer."
The mother and her civil partner, who have been together for more than 20 years, have been the children’s primary carers since birth.
This year, a Brighton judge awarded the father a shared residency order and directed that the children should spend almost half of the year with him but that ruling will now be challenged in the Court of Appeal.
The mother is arguing that the father is trying to “marginalise” her civil partner and “overpower” the children with his forceful personality.
The lesbian couple’s lawyer, June Venters QC, said that the children do have a meaningful relationship with their father but that the couple should be granted day-to-day custody of them.
Ms Venters said that the currently arrangements were “enormously complex” and did not make clear the contribution of the mother’s partner to the children’s lives.
The appeal court hearing continues.
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- Gay Rights, Lesbian, Lesbians, custody, 2 more
