Fertilisation Bill Passed

Sorry I've not updated this blog for a little while. Last Wednesday the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill was passed by the House of Lords giving new rights to same sex female parents. Interestingly, Pink News has picked up on some of the less than enlightened comments made in the chamber.

Embryology Bill Controversy

The media is working itself into a mild frenzy (and by American standards on this issue, a comatose state) over the Embryology Bill. Pink News reported last week that whilst the focus is on abortion the Bill does remove the requirement for doctors to consider the need for a father when assessing women for fertility treatments. Today, the Guardian carries a piece detailing how Harriet Harman has now intervened to stop MPs voting on liberalising abortion laws - a move that offered the opportunity to transform the law in relation to Northern Ireland. Whatever side of the issue you are on this surely seems undemocratic and ill-judged. That said, Harman is a well known pro-choice figure and this seems more about getting the bill through than her own personal wishes. All of these is largely being overshadowed by the allegations first made in The Times overnight relating to George Osborne (the Tory Shadow Chancellor) and which dominated the news this morning (the BBC Today programme carried an interesting bit than be listened to here). That may help a more liberal focus on the Embryology Bill as there won't be the same media hoo-ha.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

It was hard not to notice the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill passing the committee stage. Whilst much of the media focus was on the proposed changes to adoption rules, the Bill also removes the requirement upon doctors to consider the need for a father in providing fertility services. As such, the move offers new rights for lesbian mothers. I've previously noted that these measures do not go far enough, trapped as they are in an out-dated gendered and hetero-normative labelling framework.

A detailed analysis of the vote can be viewed at: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7692.html

Dispatches: In God's Name

If you missed Dispatches: In God's Name earlier this week, you really should take a look at it. Terrifying stuff.

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Part 4



Part 5

New South Wales & Parental Rights

A number of news sites reported this week on the announcement of the Australian NSW government that children born through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to lesbian mothers will have the same rights as those of heterosexual couples.

Read the full story at: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7472.html

A little miracle?

Thomas Beatie, the transsexual at the centre of the 'pregnant man' story (see my earlier post here) has continued to be in the headlines this week. Not least for appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday in the States.

You can view a clip from the show on the Oprah website and another shorter clip on the BBC news website here. I was really struck that the Oprah player has a caption saying 'Is it a boy or a girl?' and that Beatie refers to 'she' and 'her' has their baby. Is it only me who finds ironic that such a conventional and conservative view of gender is being used in this pretty extraordinary circumstance? That certainly isn't a criticism of Beatie. Unlike O'Reily on Fox News who called this a 'freak show' last night, I think it's an amazing and wonderful thing. He also expressed concerns about a 13 year old viewing this interview. I think a 13 year old should watch this interview and should have a broader more thoughtful understanding of gender and sexuality.

This story also, at least for me, brings back the issues of maternal and paternal definitions within the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill currently before Parliament (see my earlier post here). I only wish some MP would raise these transgender issues in Parliament in the context of the Bill as it raises some very real questions about the limitations and appropriateness of the proposed definitions.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

Pink News has picked up on some of the stories surrounding the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, currently before the House of Commons. The most recent draft of the Bill together with details of its progress can viewed here. The stories focus around MPs being given a free vote on sections of the Bill.

The Bill would replace the current need for doctors to consider the need for a father when decided whether or not to provide such treatments with the need for supportive parenting.

You can view the Pink News stories here and here.

My criticism of the Bill is the same as that of a colleague of mine, Donna Whitehead who has published some material in the New Law Journal on this. Essentially, this Bill is not radical enough and continues to perpetuate outdated models of the family.