The Sullivan-Shields family There has been overwhelming support in Parliament for an Upper Hutt woman’s quest to have the names of both her mothers stated on her birth certificate. All parties except New Zealand First have voted in favour of the first reading of a rare Private Bill sponsored by Louisa Wall, seeking to clear out the legal discrimination faced by 20-year-old Rowen Sullivan and her family. When one of Rowen’s mums Diane Sullivan became terminally ill with lung cancer, her other mother Doreen Shields was not able to jointly adopt her, because she was an IVF baby born before a 2005 law change. Doreen became a guardian instead, and adopted Rowen after Diane’s death. It means Rowen now only has one of her mums on her birth certificate, something the bill Louisa Wall has put forward would change. It would require Rowen’s birth certificate to be changed so both her mothers are listed. The Bill has easily passed its first reading, and been sent to the Government Administration Select Committee. Sponsor Louisa Wall read out a statement from Rowen, who explained: “Some people might ask why this matters, it is just a piece of paper. I want my mum's name on my birth certificate to honour her and everything she went through to have me and to stay with me when she got sick. She loved me and I will always love her.” Wall said the woman was placed in a position that no-one should have to face. “She had a birth certificate that recorded her mum's name only. The reality was she had two parents who loved her and who she loved. Together they were a family. But when her mum became terminally ill the reality of her legal relationship with her other parent, Doreen, was brought to the fore.” Wall said while the change might not seem like much to ask but, it will make a significant difference to the family. Her sentiment and reasoning were echoed by Green MP Jan Logie, who said she had faith the House would fix the issue for the family. "I think it is plain to most if not all of us that a wrong has been done. And it is something that is quite easily within our power to fix." A number of Labour and National MPs also spoke in support. Only New Zealand First spoke against it, with one of its MP Denis O’Rourke stating that was because it was “not appropriate to change the law for one individual”. The Bill easily passed the first reading however, without New Zealand First’s support, and is headed for Select Committee.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 7th August 2013 - 5:14pm