MeiBeck “Chino” and Maya Scott-Chung are lesbian moms raising a seven-year-old daughter. When they wanted to add another child to their family, but had trouble conceiving, they discovered that the only way they could get access to assisted reproductive services was to pretend that one of them was in a heterosexual relationship with their known donor (whom they had used to conceive their daughter).
That’s right. In California—California, which, Prop 8 aside, ranks pretty high in terms of LGBT equality—same-sex couples using a known donor cannot access some of the most effective and least expensive fertility services.
Assembly Bill 2356, which will come up for a vote on the Assembly floor sometime in the next two weeks, could change that. The bill, sponsored by Equality California, “will ensure that same-sex couples can access fertility services on the same terms as other committed couples and put the joy of having a child within the reach of all loving families.”
Chino and Maya tell their story in the video below. Visit Equality California to find out how to help spread the word, including sending a letter to your Assembly member (if you live in California).