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Children from anonymous donors: an inquiry into homosexual and heterosexual parents' attitudes
A Brewaeys1, I Ponjaert-Kristoffersen, A C Van Steirteghem
1Department of Psychology, Free University, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract:
This study compared two groups of homosexual and heterosexual parents with respect to their attitudes towards the donor-origin of their children. All couples had applied at the Fertility Clinic for artificial insemination with anonymous donor sperm (AID). Both groups had used anonymous donors in order to conceive. However, the sexual orientation of the parents and the presence or absence of a social father was different in the two groups. By comparing such different families it was hoped to obtain insight into those factors which influence parents' attitudes concerning donor insemination. Twenty-five lesbian and 25 heterosexual parents were interviewed. The open-ended questionnaires solicited information on the following issues: attitudes towards secrecy/disclosure of the use of a donor, views on anonymity/identity registration of the donor, parents' cognitive and emotional representation of the donor. Response rates differed between the groups: all homosexual parents consented to the interview and 44% of the heterosexual parents did so. Parents' attitudes depended on several variables. The different family structures were related to different motivations for AID treatment. For heterosexual couples, the use of a donor offered them the opportunity to become a 'normal family'. For homosexual couples, creating a two-mother family unit meant going one step further in 'being different'. Attitudes towards the use of a donor were consequently different: heterosexual couples chose secrecy and donor anonymity. Homosexual parents intended to inform their children. Of these homosexual parents, 40% would prefer the identity of the donor to be registered. This evolution towards removal of the anonymity seemed to be encouraged by the openness surrounding the use of a donor itself. In both groups it remained difficult to reduce the donor to an anonymous sperm cell, fantasies and questions about the donor continued to exist over the years.