Society’s degree of acceptance of same-sex relationships fluctuates over time. As such, many gay and lesbian couples have experienced disapproval from family members, neighbors or even strangers at some point. While discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is inappropriate and even illegal in some circumstances, it does still occur.
People may want to limit who knows about their most intimate choices instead of drawing attention to them. Same-sex couples considering surrogacy as a means of expanding their families may wonder if they need to disclose their unique circumstances to potential surrogates.
Is disclosure mandatory when pursuing medically assisted reproduction?
Disclosure can be beneficial
Contrary to what aspiring parents might assume, being forthright about the reason for seeking surrogacy services could actually open them up to more opportunities. Surrogates are sometimes selective about the couples they assist, and those who have loved ones in same-sex relationships may be open to helping growing same-sex families.
Attempting to hide an intimate relationship might only exacerbate the already stressful process of medically assisted reproduction. Gay couples, in particular, may find that their relationship status might actually help the surrogate feel more comfortable with their desire to add a child to the family.
Particularly in cases where both spouses intend to establish legal relationships with the newborn, discussing the family unit with surrogate candidates can be a helpful move. Aspiring parents have control over how much they share with gestational carriers.
Choosing what to disclose and how much interaction to have with a surrogate can be a challenging component of the assisted reproduction process. Aspiring parents who worry about their options may want to discuss their concerns and obligations with an attorney.