Mother in artificial conception deal with gay men loses case

A woman who gave birth to a girl after a man agreed to donate sperm has lost a family court fight over the youngster’s future.

She said she had entered into an agreement on artificial conception with the man which would see her acting as “main parent and carer”.

The man said the deal was that he and his male partner would “co-parent” the youngster, with the woman continuing to “play a role”. He said the woman had agreed to be a surrogate mother.

A High Court judge ruled in favour of the men after hearings in London and Birmingham. Ms Justice Russell also criticised the woman, saying she had used “offensive language” including “stereotypical images and descriptions of gay men” — and “insinuated that gay men in same-sex relationships behave in a sexually dis-inhibited manner” and were “sexually disloyal to each-other”.

Detail of the case has emerged in a written ruling following hearings in January and February.

The girl at the centre of the dispute celebrated her first birthday earlier this year.