6/29/2012 0 Comments In Honour of Pride Week - Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) and the LGBTQ communityFor me, PRIDE is a time of hope and celebration, and I think it is apropos that we recognize just how far we have come as a society in helping all people who want children build their families in various ways, including through assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). I often mention that, in my opinion, the Assisted Human Reproduction Act starts out with a bang that is truly something to be proud of (unfortunately it fizzles out from there). Specifically, the Act states that, s. 2 The Parliament of Canada recognizes and declares that… (e) persons who seek to undergo assisted reproduction procedures must not be discriminated against, including on the basis of their sexual orientation or marital status. While ARTs are often lauded for their success in helping people with infertility, they are just as useful, necessary and laudable for members of the LGBT community who do not suffer from infertility. Gay men in particular benefit from accessible ARTs with an emphasis on the T for technology; donor insemination has long been a self-help remedy, but there is no corresponding self-help remedy for gestational surrogacy. Although there is much to celebrate (and there really is – so many beautiful families would not have been possible without ARTS), it’s imperative that we learn how to make section 2(e) of the AHRA more than just an ideal but a reality. To that end, I want to share with you the hands-down best presentation regarding ARTs that I have been to all year, which hopefully will obain the funding to be presented repeatedly throughout Ontario: Reframing Assisted Human Reproduction: A forum theatre workshop about LGBTQ people’s experiences with AHR services The workshop is based on interviews conducted with 66 LGBTQ people across Ontario who have used, considered using, and/or avoided using AHR to have genetically related children. Some of the worst experiences of the interviewees are portrayed for the audience (the performance is candid that it is reflective of the worst-case scenarios and doesn’t reflect any of the positive experiences of the LGBTQ community accessing ART services in Ontario). I have to admit, I had my doubts about a performanced based workshop, but it was incredibly effective. As far as we have come with people of the LGBTQ community having access to ARTs, the experiences as performed in the workshop were shocking, eye-opening and traumatic. From the things that we can easily remedy to be more sensitive, such as offering genderless bathrooms, to the way consent forms are drafted making assumptions as to gender and sexuality, this presentation highlighted practical ways in which we can make ART services truly accessible to the LGBTQ community. For more information, please contact Lesley Tarasoff Phone: 416-535-8501 x 7386 Email: [email protected] or see http://www.lgbtqhealth.ca/
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AuthorSara R. Cohen practices fertility law at Fertility Law Canada™ in Toronto, Canada with clients across the country and beyond. She loves what she does, and it shows! Archives
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