Same-sex parental rights law 'means the world'

An upcoming change in law "means the world" to one same-sex couple who will get equal parental rights to their son for the first time.

The Isle of Man's Reproductive Rights Bill 2024 is currently awaiting royal ascent after passing through all its key stages in Tynwald.

Zoe Guilford and Gemma Wasley have a four-year-old son together, but only Zoe has legal responsibility for him.

Gemma said if her wife died she would "have no responsibility and no rights, which is terrifying".

The private members bill was introduced by Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Tanya August-Phillips who hopes to bring laws in line with the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.

Under the proposed new laws couples undergoing IVF treatment or using surrogacy would be treated in the same way as heterosexual couples.

Zoe and Gemma had their son in 2021 when Gemma was documented on his birth certificate as an "informant", which was akin to being a witness, they said.

Gemma said the lack of responsibility could have serious implications "if the worst should happen" which had given her "a low-level anxiety".

"I have no responsibility and no rights, which is terrifying... I have lost sleep over it, definitely," she said.

While Zoe gave birth to their son, Gemma said they started the journey to becoming a family-of-three together, "so I'm no less a parent".

Now the new legislation is on its journey to becoming law, the pair said: "It means the world."

Gemma said: "There shouldn't be any argument about homosexuality anyway...here we are in 2025 still fighting, it's crazy".

MLC August-Phillips brought the bill forward last year, saying it was something that had been "hanging around" for three administrations.

She said it "fell down to the bottom of the list" of priorities due to heavy workloads and "limited resources".

"For the individuals that are involved they are the people that are driving this," she said, adding the delay had been "deeply unfair".

The government was first made aware of the issue in 2014, when the then pregnant Sue Harper realised her partner Sarah would not have the same rights to their child.

Sue said she "had to do something" and approached government, and has been "pushing and pushing and pushing" for more than a decade to get the law changed.

She said: "We did joke when we started this that [our daughter] would be in school by the time it got through. She is now 10 and we have another one, who is five."

Looking ahead to "when the law changes, not if" she said the family would "dress up" and come to the civil registry office and "hopefully be the first" to update their children's birth certificates.

"There'll be a day off work, a day off school, and there will be champagne," she added.

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