NYT: Surrogate Mothers' New Niche: Bearing Babies for Gay Couples

[kskiska]

On a spring morning not long ago, Lura Stiller sat in her stocking feet in a sunny cottage in Cambridge, Mass., helping Cary Friedman and his partner, Rick Wellisch, calm their daughter, a 3-month-old in a pink T-shirt.

Ms. Stiller, 34, a homemaker from the Dallas suburbs, likes to say that the number of gay people in her acquaintance before she met Dr. Friedman, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Wellisch, an internist, amounted to zero. "Everything I knew about gay people I knew from TV, which meant that everything I knew about gay people I learned from 'Will and Grace' and 'The L Word,' " she said.

In December, Ms. Stiller gave birth to the baby, named Samantha, for Dr. Friedman and Dr. Wellisch, conceived with a donor egg and the sperm from one of the partners. (They chose not to know which.) In her decision to work with them Ms. Stiller is part of a small but growing movement of surrogate mothers choosing gay couples over traditional families.

As legislatures debate giving gay couples the right to marry - 14 states have amended their constitutions to prevent it - hundreds of couples are finding ways to create families with or without marriage through surrogates like Ms. Stiller, who are willing to help them have children genetically linked to them and to bypass the often difficult legal challenges gay men face in adoption.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2005/05/27/national/27surrogate.html?hp&ex=1117166400&en=ccc3ddf2a1b2fa39&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[sam sarrha]

1. that is definately womans work......................

[Moderator]

2. kick

[rodeodance]

3. Surrogate Mothers' New Niche: Bearing Babies for Gay Couples

i am looking at the front page of the NYTimes print edition. There is this story and a large pic of a surrogate mom in bed. She is reading a magazine and has sheets over here (rather large women). Next to her is a man laying on his side with his clothes on but staring admiredly at her as she continues to read.
The caption reads: Dawn Buras, a surrogate, was watched over by Anthony Ramos, a prospective father, after undergoing an embryonic transfer in March.

It is just the oddest pic i have ever seen.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/27/national/27surrogate.html?

May 27, 2005
Surrogate Mothers' New Niche: Bearing Babies for Gay Couples

By GINIA BELLAFANTE

On a spring morning not long ago, Lura Stiller sat in her stocking feet in a sunny cottage in Cambridge, Mass., helping Cary Friedman and his partner, Rick Wellisch, calm their daughter, a 3-month-old in a pink T-shirt.

Ms. Stiller, 34, a homemaker from the Dallas suburbs, likes to say that the number of gay people in her acquaintance before she met Dr. Friedman, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Wellisch, an internist, amounted to zero. "Everything I knew about gay people I knew from TV, which meant that everything I knew about gay people I learned from 'Will and Grace' and 'The L Word,' " she said.

In December, Ms. Stiller gave birth to the baby, named Samantha, for Dr. Friedman and Dr. Wellisch, conceived with a donor egg and the sperm from one of the partners. (They chose not to know which.) In her decision to work with them Ms. Stiller is part of a small but growing movement of surrogate mothers choosing gay couples over traditional families.

As legislatures debate giving gay couples the right to marry - 14 states have amended their constitutions to prevent it - hundreds of couples are finding ways to create families with or without marriage through surrogates like Ms. Stiller, who are willing to help them have children genetically linked to them and to bypass the often difficult legal challenges gay men face in adoption.......

[earthboundmisfit]

4. Hey Shrub: What about gay couples as potential adoptive parents

for the Snowflake embryos?

[Wilms]

5. What a relief.

There is such a terrible shortage of babies.

[LeftyMom]

6. That was in interesting article

I'm suprised that woman in the yellow is allowed to do surro, her weight is a risk factor and most intended parents are picky about that, because it's a risk factor for GD and premature birth.

[rodeodance]

7. yes, i thought of thatd--

[Samanthas-surromom]

10. Couldn't let this go

LeftyMom,

Dawn is not a 'big' girl. She is more than within the weight limits for a surrogacy. She is a wonderful mom of 4 boys and has been a surrogate twice before this one with her guys.

Lets see how you look in a bed lying down surrounded by pillows.

Samantha's Surro-Mommy

[PartyPooper]

8. This baby will be loved and cherished and have every opportunity.

Her folks happen to be 2 gay guys who (probably) collectively make a lot of money. So, for Samantha, she will likely have the best upbringing and education possible. I'm not saying money is everything here, but it will sure help along the way.

So much for "sanctity of marriage" between a man and a woman. Straights don't have a monopoly on that!

Bless this family.

As a gay guy in a long-term relationship (sadly, without kids), I just had to say it.

:D

:hi:

[Samanthas-surromom]

9. PP is so right

PP - you hit the head of the nail. Samantha is a great little baby who was loved before she was even conceived. I'm so glad to be a part of a wonderful journey that turned two great guys into a family.

I wish that you would find your special woman to help you achieve your dream of children.

Samantha's Very Proud Surro-Mommy