An Insight into Access to Fertility Treatment by Gays, Lesbians, and Unmarried Persons ? Changing Nature of Reproduction and Family

Single individuals, unmarried heterosexual couples, and gay and lesbian couples have interests in having and rearing children. Overall results of research suggest that the development, adjustment, and well-being of children with lesbian and gay parents do not differ markedly from that of children with heterosexual parents. Data do not support restricting access to assisted reproductive technologies on the basis of a prospective parent's marital/partner status or sexual orientation. Programs should treat all requests for assisted reproduction equally without regard to marital/partner status or sexual orientation. This paper aims to explore the implications of reproduction by single individuals, unmarried heterosexual couples, and gay and lesbian couples. It also discusses a new California Healthcare law which deals with gay and lesbian discrimination for fertility treatment. The paper concludes that ethical arguments supporting denial of access to fertility services on the basis of marital status or sexual orientation cannot be justi?ed.