Polly Toynbee (Press, 4 April 1978)

An article from the London “Evening News” has sparked significant backlash regarding the issue of lesbian parenthood. The piece, written by reporters Joanna Patyna and Jane Butterworth, involved them infiltrating a lesbian group under the guise of a couple seeking to conceive through artificial insemination. They disclosed that a doctor in London had helped ten lesbian couples have children through this method. This revelation has instigated concern among the wider community and particularly among lesbian mothers, as it raises fears about the potential for their children to be taken away by the courts. The reaction has been particularly acute from certain Members of Parliament, including Rhodes Bovson and Jill Knight, who have been vocal in their opposition. Their comments and the sensational nature of the article have exacerbated the already challenging climate for lesbian parents, who face societal stigma and legal difficulties. The organisation Sappho, which represents lesbian interests, pointed out that the number of couples using artificial insemination is limited to just ten. Nonetheless, the heightened public scrutiny and sensationalist reporting pose a greater risk for other lesbian mothers, who now fear increased legal challenges to their custody. Attempts at legal recourse for lesbian mothers have had mixed results. The group Action for Lesbian Parents reported involvement in only two successful custody cases following the breakdown of marriages, both of which were exceptional circumstances. In one instance, the child strongly desired to remain with the mother, while in the other, the father lacked sufficient accommodation for the children. The prevailing trend, however, is that being a lesbian can severely jeopardise a woman’s chances of retaining custody of her children, with many losing all rights to access. This situation reflects the profound societal challenges that continue to confront lesbian parents, exacerbated by sensational media reporting and political rhetoric. The article's repercussions may deepen the isolation and fear felt by an already vulnerable segment of the population.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand