I am an out and proud gay man, whose passions include helping others become parents. For a number of years, I have worked closely with Rainbow Families to aim for surrogacy law reform in Australia. It remains a work in progress.
It is extraordinary to reflect that I have advised in over 2,000 surrogacy journeys (i.e. ~4,000 clients) for clients throughout Australia and in 39 other countries. On top of that, since 2013, I have advised in known sperm, egg and embryo donation cases. I have helped hundreds of rainbow babies to be born.
On Saturday, my husband Mitchell, our daughter Elizabeth, and I joined other Rainbow Families in marching at Mardi Gras. It was a joyful and exhilarating experience, marching as a family, and being cheered on by 250,000 strangers lining the Parade route. Marching at Mardi Gras is one of the highlights of my year.
The joy was particularly poignant, as only a day before the latest rainbow baby that I had helped guide into existence was born, also in Sydney.
It was an honour to be one of the bearers of the Gay Dads banner during the Parade. I also had the opportunity to catch up with Rainbow Families supporter, Dr Anne Clark, of Fertility First/Genea in Sydney.
Among the people I caught up with were Ashley Scott, Rainbow Families co-ordinator, and Paul Hadfield and his husband Charlie. Paul is the convenor of Gay Dads WA. He has played a leading role in lobbying for and enabling the passage of the Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Act 2025 (WA), which finally will get rid of discrimination in WA against single men and gay couples accessing surrogacy there.
