The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) has welcomed the historical passage of the Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Bill 2008 in NSW Parliament last night. The legislation provides equal parenting rights to co-mothers of children born through donor insemination and allows both mums to be listed on their child's birth certificate.

Lesbian mothers, like heterosexual parents, experience the everyday joys and responsibilities of parenting - volunteering in school canteens, taking kids to sport, packing lunch boxes and changing nappies. The legal recognition of these families by our Parliament is a long awaited reform that finally reflects the reality of Australian families in 2008,” said Emily Gray, GLRL Co-Convenor.

An estimated 1000 children in NSW who have two mums will now have both parents recognised in the eyes of the law. This recognition is important for protecting children’s rights in areas such as inheritance, workers compensation and health care, as well as custody and contact in the event of relationship breakdown.

“A recent Women’s Weekly poll found that 71 per cent of Australians support equal rights for same sex couples. This reform is about the NSW Parliament playing catch-up with other states and territories that recognise same sex families such as Western Australia, Northern Territory, the ACT and Tasmania,” said Peter Johnson, GLRL Co-Convenor.

The legislation attracted majority support in the Legislative Assembly with 64 votes in favour and 11 votes against. The legislation had support from the Labor and the Greens. A significant number of Coalition members, using their conscience vote, also supported the reform.

“Over 25 years of credible research has demonstrated that it is the love and care in a family, not the gender of the parents, which has the greatest influence on the health, wellbeing and development of a child. No-one will lose any rights from these changes, but an estimated 1000 children who will have two legally recognised parents will be the greatest winners,” concluded Ms Gray.