[Reader-list] Fwds : Israeli Gay Couple get a Son in India

[inder salim]

 MUMBAI: Israeli gay couple Yonatan and Omer Gher are categorical
about their dislike for Section 377 of the Indian law that makes
homosexuality a criminal offence, but they like the `desi' regulation
that allowed them to hire a surrogate mother to deliver their child
here.
Their first-born, Evyatar, was conceived with a Mumbai-based surrogate
mother in Rotunda, a fertility clinic in Bandra, proving once again
that India is a preferred destination for infertile couples as well as
gay couples seeking surrogacy.

The proud fathers are aware of the scepticism involving same-sex
parents. "Some say it is a disadvantage for a child to have gay
parents. We think it is an advantage as we can't have a child by
accident. Since there is so much planning, preparation and travel
involved, the child is more appreciated,'' said Yonatan as he lovingly
cradles Evyatar in his arms and feeds him milk from a bottle in their
Santa Cruz apartment.

Yonatan, who heads Israel's largest gay rights organisation, feels
it's time India changed Section 377, all the more because India is so
"diverse and pluralistic and shouldn't outcast'' 10% of its
population.

Yonathan (30) and Omer (31) have been together for the past seven
years and recently decided to start a family. "Israel doesn't allow
same-sex couples to adopt or have a surrogate mother. So we started
scouting and found that only India and US offer surrogacy to same-sex
couples,'' said Yonatan.

They heard about Rotunda clinic through friends and say it was the
`personal touch' that appealed to them. "We also thought we could get
a surrogate mother here rather than in the US, which is more
prosperous.'' The cost too was a consideration. The entire process
cost nearly half of what it would have been in the US. "India was also
closer to home,'' they said.

India, with its easy availability of surrogate mothers, easy paperwork
and cheap costs have earned a reputation for its surrogacy programme,
with Anand in Gujarat often being referred to as the `surrogacy
capital of the world'.

Same-sex couples are the latest trickle. The Rotunda clinic itself has
seen 40 same-sex couples since 2005. The clinic's Dr Gautam Allahbadia
said they receive frequent requests from same-sex couples from France,
Spain and Sweden.

But infertility specialist Indira Hinduja who recently received
requests from two gay couples from Switzerland and France says she is
sceptical. "There are several factors to consider--will the child get
citizenship in their home country? So also, since the surrogate is
Indian, the features of the child will be Indian,'' she said.

Yonathan and Omer first came to Mumbai in January for an IVF cycle
when Yonathan donated his sperm. "We were in constant touch over
email, sending them the ultrasound,'' said Dr Allahbadia, who said the
couple is now keen to have another child and they've requested the
same donor so that they could have "real siblings''.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=LifeStyleSectionPage&id=4856004b-ee00-419b-93ef-59d7e5b0f674&&Headline=Mumbai+gives+Israeli+gay+couple+a+baby+boy
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http://www.zeenews.com/newspapers/2008-11-18/484477news.html
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http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3580187,00.html






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