Same sex couples' fury

Marion Woodhead with her daughter Mya relax in the hammock at their family home. Marion is in a same sex relationship and supports the new surrogacy law changes.

Warren Lynam

Poll

Should same-sex couples have surrogacy rights?

This poll ended on 19 February 2010.

Yes. This is 2010 and gay parents are just as good as straight parents

45%

No. What about the rights of the child?

42%

It should be decided on a case by case basis

11%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

THURSDAY night the State Government's controversial Surrogacy Bill, enabling same-sex couples to become parents, was passed by parliament.

It was a moment of mixed emotions for Sunshine Coast mum Marion Woodhead, who is raising her one-year-old daughter Mya with her long-term female partner.

Marion was pleased the rights of gay people were honoured in the Bill, but she was horrified by comments made by Sunshine Coast members of parliament.

“Some of the things said were incredibly hurtful. Everything they said was so judgemental and misinformed,” she said.

“Why would we treat our children any differently or be worse parents just because of who we love?”

In his address to parliament, 27-year-old father of two Jarrod Bleijie, the LNP Member for Kawana, said “this Bill is the start of the socialist reform agenda”.

“They start with same-sex parenting and one begins to wonder where they will go and when they will stop,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Children are not a commodity. You cannot just expect to make them and shoot them out left, right and centre for the sake of some selfish right for children.”

Update: Coast priest supports same sex surrogacy

Mr Bleijie, who voted against the Bill, said he felt empathy for heterosexual couples unable to conceive but voted against the legislation because children have the right to traditional father-mother parentage.

“Having children is not a right. It is a responsibility. We do not have the right to force this (same-sex parents) upon children,” he said.

Steve Dickson, the LNP member for Buderim, told the Daily if same-sex parenting was enabled through the Bill it would contribute to social decay.

He said the desire of same-sex couples to have children was a want, not a need.

“Two men can't have a child and two women can't have a child. It's the way I was brought up,” Mr Dickson said.

“I know gay people. I've got gay friends. I'm not opposed to those people.”

Peter Wellington, the independent member for Nicklin, also voted against the bill.

“I believe children should have the opportunity to have a mother and a father,” he said.

A vote on the second reading of the Bill was supported 48-40.

What do you think? Leave your comments below ...

Related ...

Surrogacy won't boom: Qld A-G