LGBT ART
LGBT couples and individuals have varied needs for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to assist in building their families.
Lesbian couples and single lesbians will need to use sperm donation to achieve pregnancy and may also consider using donated embryos or creating their own embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Gay men will need egg donors to create embryos and then will need gestational carriers to carry their embryos.
Transgender people may seek to preserve their fertility by moderating hormone therapy when they want to have children or to retrieve and store sperm or eggs awaiting the decision to parent.
What all LGBT people have in common in their decision to use ART is the need for experienced lawyers to assure them that their choices will result not only in their being able to have children, but also that their parental rights to those children are secured. Laws vary by state on how a “donor” is defined and how people can secure their parental rights. There are also some states that still do not permit LGBT couples or single people to enter into enforceable surrogacy contracts, sometimes because of restrictions defined by marital relationships or genetic connection to the child.
An attorney who is a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) can help you navigate the variety of laws and policies that may affect your rights to use assisted reproduction to build your family. Find an attorney now.
For more information on LGBT assisted reproductive rights, the following organizations have important and interesting information and AAAA has supported their efforts with the filing of amicus curiae, or friend of the court briefs on some of their litigation advocating for LGBT adoption and parenting rights.
