making babies the gay way – the last taboo

making babies the gay way | parent skills | help & info

by Nigel Cooper

help and info

Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites

organisations

Parentline Plus
Helpline: 0808 800 2222 (24 hours a day, every day)
Textphone: 0800 783 6783
Website: www.parentlineplus.org.uk
Offers support to anyone parenting a child; the child's parents, stepparents, grandparents and foster parents. Runs free telephone and email helplines, parenting courses and offers information leaflets.

Pink Parents UK
The D'Arcy Lainey Foundation
PO Box 417
Oldham OL2 7WT
Helpline: 08701 273 274 (Mon-Fri 9am-12pm)
Tel: 01706 84 99 79 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-2.30pm)
Website: www.pinkparents.org.uk
A UK-wide organisation of, by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans parents, parents-to-be and their children, offering an e-magazine, comprehensive resource website, publications, enquiry service, telephone helpline, workshops on donor insemination and national and local social events.

websites

Beyond Barriers
www.beyondbarriers.org.uk/beyond_barriers
The Beyond Barriers project has closed down but the website still aims to provide comprehensive, reliable information on a wide range of issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Channel4.com – webchat with Debbie McMahon
www.channel4.com/community/ ..
Debbie featured in the Channel 4 programme Making Babies the Gay Way (first transmitted January 2004) which explored the wider implications of living as a gay couple with children. Lesbian couple Debbie and George wanted to start a family together and approached a friend for sperm. This is the transcript of the webchat that Debbie took part in after the programme, in which she discusses their experiences before and after the birth of baby Ellen.

Gay Dads Scotland
www.gaydadsscotland.org.uk
Social and support group for gay fathers living in Scotland. The website has links to research articles that examine the effects on children on being brought up by lesbian, gay or bisexual parents.

Gay.com UK
http://uk.gay.com/channel/community/parenting/
Gay.com's parenting information section, with features on various parenting issues.

Gay and Lesbian Families
www.family2000.org.uk/gay%20&%20lesbian%20families.htm
Resources for gay and lesbian families with helpful articles, books and videos.

Gays and Lesbians Make Fine Parents
www.gay.com/news/article.html?2001/08/30/2
Feature discussing an American study showing that gay men and lesbians are equally good parents to heterosexual couples.

Proud Parenting
www.proudparenting.com
American website aimed at gay parents with news and helpful information.

Stonewall
www.stonewall.org.uk
The campaigning group for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals has a wealth of information available. Click on Issue Bank followed by Parents and Children for more information on parenting.

reading

	Lesbian and Gay Fostering and Adoption: Extraordinary Yet Ordinary edited by Stephen Hicks and Jane McDermot (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1998) A collection of personal accounts of lesbian and gay parents from many different social and ethnic backgrounds. This volume is designed to dispel misconceptions and encourage gay men and lesbians who are thinking about adopting or fostering children. Get this book

	Families Like Mine: Children of gay parents tell it like it is by Abigail Garner (HarperCollins, 2004) Abigail Garner was five when her parents divorced and her dad came out as gay. Growing up immersed in gay culture, she now calls herself a "culturally queer" heterosexual woman. This is a deeply personal book about gay parenting, from the perspective of grown children raised in these families. Get this book

	The Guide to Lesbian and Gay Parenting by April Martin (Rivers Orham Press, 1994) Told from personal experience, this book covers everything from choosing to become a parent to the legal and social problems gay parents may face. Get this book

	Gay and Lesbian Parenting by Deborah Glazer and Jack Drescher (Harrington Park Press, 2001) A guide for lesbian and gay parents. Get this book

	The Queer Parent's Primer by Stephanie A Brill (New Harbinger Publications, 2001) A practical guide for gay parents and would-be gay parents, discussing all of the issues involved, from finding sensitive schools to legal issues and other general parenting tips. Get this book

	Same Sex Intimacies by Jeffrey Weeks, Brian Heaphy and Catherine Donovan (Routledge, 2001) This book discusses the relationships and families that gay men and lesbians form with each other. It also discusses gay parenting, with case studies and quotes from gay parents. Get this book