LGBTQ+ community protest over exclusionary family relationships act

Today marks a historic step in the right direction for LGBTQ+ rights. The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, has signed a commencement order for the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (CFRA). Beginning May 5th, 2020, some children born to LGBT+ families in Ireland, will for the first time be provided with a pathway to have their relationship with their non-biological parent recognised in regards to citizenship rights, passports, birth certificates, tax status, and other legal respects. The news comes as a relief to many LGBTQ parents, but frustration to a number of others.

Members of the community claim that the commencement order is far from sufficient, as the act only represents roughly half of LGBTQ+ people. Heres a list of children that are excluded from the rights granted by the order:

- has two male parents
- has a transgender parent
- born via surrogacy
- born via reciprocal IVF
- Are born outside of Ireland
- Are conceived in an international clinic
- Are conceived via at-home insemination
- Are conceived with a known donor
- Are conceived with an anonymous donor

Evidently, the bill excludes many. In response, members of Equality for Children are holding a demonstration today at the Department of Health. The event begins at 2:30 PM.

One of the organizers, Ranae Von Meding commented, explaining "I want to be clear that today is not a win for us. The signing of this commencement order has already been delayed 7 times over the last 5 years. And only a fraction of LGBT+ families and their children will be covered by it. My family along with many others will continue to be left behind. It is not as has been reported today - as ‘equality for same-sex families’. It is SOME equality for SOME LGBT+ families but only if you meet the criteria. And many of us, unfortunately, do not. We will continue to campaign and lobby until a real solution to provide equality to all our children is realised."

So, what's next?

Equality for Children plans to continue campaigning for the equality of all children of LGBT+ families in Ireland. The plan to lobby Minister Harris and the government to inclusive of all community members in the forthcoming Assisted Human Reproduction campaign.

For more details on their mission and events, check out their website here.