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LGBT Surrogacy Laws At A Glance

LGBT Surrogacy Laws At A Glance

The laws governing surrogate pregnancy vary widely from State to State and are often ambiguous. When LGBT couples choose to take part in surrogate pregnancy, their first step is to find a surrogate mother.
In order to find a surrogate, intended parents should first seek the advice of a lawyer or a surrogate agency. Intended parents will want to make sure that they are aware of the State laws that apply to their specific surrogate pregnancy.
For example, California courts have allowed LGBT couples to have successful surrogate pregnancy experiences. While there may be no specific State laws that allow it, California has not prohibited gay surrogacy. 
In order to find a surrogate that will work with them, LGBT couples should seek legal advice from an attorney. When couples find a surrogate, they may feel that the biggest part of the battle is won. However, they must remember that there could be further legal complications along the way. 
Surrogate pregnancy in the LGBT community has no clear-cut laws and parental rights often come into question. In addition, some surrogate mothers have changed their minds and have fought for custody of the child and won. This can be a heartbreaking prospect for couples.
However, if intended parents choose the appropriate representation when taking part in surrogate pregnancy, they can be assured that the process will run as smoothly as possible.

LGBT Surrogacy Information

LGBT Surrogacy Information

LGBT Surrogacy Definition
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals sometimes seek a surrogate mother in order to have a child that is biologically-related to at least one parent. Often, intended parents may utilize eggs or sperm from both partners so that they are not aware of which parent is actually biologically-related to the child. They do this in hopes of avoiding either parent’s attitudes towards the child being affected by biology.
By behaving as parents with equal rights regarding the child, they are more likely to be treated as equal parents in the eyes of those around them. LGBT couples wish to have the same rights afforded to traditional parents and behave in a way that will help them achieve those rights. LGBT surrogacy is becoming increasing acceptable by both society and the legal community. 

Conflict of Laws

In states that have enacted laws regarding surrogacy, only certain types have been legally allowed. While some states allow for commercial surrogacy, others only allow for altruistic surrogate contracts.

Specific Agencies
When a LGBT couple chooses to use a surrogate mother to have a child, there are specific agencies that can help. For instance, there are human rights organizations that will help the intended parents find a surrogate agency that will assist them. There are specific agencies that specialize in helping singles and those in the LGBT community achieve a successful surrogate pregnancy. These organizations and agencies will assist in all medical and legal issues.
Many members of the LGBT community will find that they encounter opposition when they attempt to have a child through surrogacy. Unfortunately, this is an added stress to the many other stresses associated with surrogacy. LGBT couples may experience opposition among those close to them, as well as people they encounter throughout the surrogacy process.
Intended parents will want to be sure that they utilize the services of an agency that has experience dealing with opposition and that has a proven success rate in LGBT surrogacy. If intended parents choose the correct agency and have a good support group in place, they will find the process to be a happy and successful one.

What You Should Know About The Opposition Against LGBT Surrogacy

What You Should Know About The Opposition Against LGBT Surrogacy

When intended parents in the LGBT community begin looking for a surrogate, they are likely to encounter many forms of opposition. This opposition may even be from family and friends. However, they are more likely to encounter opposition from agencies while looking for a surrogate. In addition, the most complicated and damaging opposition may be found in State laws. 
When LGBT individuals who intend to become parents attempt to have a surrogate baby, they are likely to experience bias from those around them. Opposition can even be seen among those who otherwise support the LGBT community. There are some who believe that the right of parenthood should not extend to the LGBT community. Many people believe that parents should be a married couple. 
Unfortunately, intended parents must also consider the opposition that the child will experience in their community. For example, they may have difficulties in school and in playgroups because they have non-traditional parents. In addition, schools may not recognize the parental rights of both intended parents.
For instance, they may not allow both parents the right to take their child home from school. This can provide additional legal complications for the intended parents. However, society finally seems to be becoming more accepting of all parents as long as they are loving and caring. 
LGBT couples must realize that they are more likely to experience legal opposition to their rights regarding a surrogate baby. Although LGBT couples are likely to encounter opposition throughout the process, they can allow that opposition to bring them closer together as a family.
The family bond can be made stronger by having common goals and belief systems. By fighting for their rights regarding parenthood, LGBT couples fight for all of their rights and allow society to consider them as equals.

Important Facts About Specific Agencies

Important Facts About Specific Agencies

It is recommended that anyone who intends to be a parent to a surrogate child utilize the services of a surrogacy facility. California is the State with the most agencies that help those in the LGBT community find a surrogate mother. However, there are also agencies in other states, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts, that offer assistance to the LGBT community.
These agencies will help those in the LGBT community work through the long and sometimes complicated process of finding the appropriate surrogate mother who can suit their needs. If members of the LGBT community find that they are having a difficult time finding a surrogate mother, there are also organizations that will intercede and help them find the appropriate agencies.
Intended parents should do extensive research to be sure that they find a surrogate mother that will be comfortable with the added attention of being a surrogate to gay parents. While gay rights have advanced, there are unfortunately still people that stir the controversy and fight the process of gay surrogacy.
In this case, intended parents should be sure that they have a comforting support system in place before they begin the process of finding a surrogate mother. This can make things easier for surrogate mothers and individuals who have hired them. Many agencies offer support specific to the needs of the LGBT community and their surrogate mothers.
Many states have websites that will list the specific agencies available to help LGBT intended parents find a surrogate mother and begin the surrogacy process. In addition, these websites will also point them in the right direction as far as obtaining appropriate legal counsel.