Lesbian Parenting

Abstract

Evidence obtained from clinical encounters and polls conducted within the gay and lesbian community indicates that in the vicinity of 20 percent of Australian lesbians, gay men and bisexuals have children. The 1996 census indicated that there were 11288 same sex male couples, of whom 275 lived with children, and 8296 same sex female couples, of whom 1483 lived with children in Australia. This is felt to be an under representation as it does not allow for non-cohabiting couples or single lesbians to respond, and it is believed that many same sex cohabiting couples did not declare their relationship status. These children have been conceived via self-insemination, clinically-assisted donor insemination, other assisted reproduction procedures, as well as sexual intercourse. Although it remains difficult in Australia for unmarried people to adopt children, and few newborn children become available for adoption, some lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people have adopted children in the context of heterosexual partnerships.