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Thursday, February 2, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Many lesbians make choice to raise their own children
Lawrence woman sought artificial insemination 3 years ago
by Steven Wolcott Kansan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
An increasing number of lesbians around the country are having children, and Lawrence has not escaped this different kind of baby boom.
According to a recent survey of the 30,000 U.S. members of the Gay and Lesbian Parents Coalition International in Washington, D.C., 5 percent of its lesbian members had children by artificial insemination.
That was an increase of 4 percent over what was reported three years ago.
"It's not unusual for lesbians to have children because after all, they are women," said Liz Tolbert; dreee Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas.
Tobert said it was now more acceptable for all women, lesbian or straight, to have children outside of marriage.
Geems choose to have children for the same reasons that heterosexual couples do." "Tobert said, 'We create a family and raise a child.'"
Kansas does not have any laws prohibiting artificial insemination of a single woman.
ratricia Doria, Lawrence resident, is a lesbian who gave birth to a son in 1985, after being artificially inseminated in Seattle.
Doria said she first realized she wanted to have a child when she was 25 years old.
"I was in a women's consciousness-raising group in a little town in Georgia," Doria said. "I realized there that I could have a child and not be married. That I could avoid the social stigma of the unmarried mother who had been victimized by a man."
Doria waited until she was 38
before deciding the time was right.
She said she looked at three things when making her decision.
when sharing her knowledge, "I felt that I was stable in my job, that I was through running around and partying, and that I was ready to accept the responsibility of being a single parent," she said.
"I was not interested in being sexually involved with men, so artificial insemination made good sense," Doria said. "The sexual entanglement." Doria said.
At first, Doria tried to find gay males in Lawrence who would be willing to donate their sperm. "I could not find any that would donate and give up their parental rights, which is what I wanted." Doria said.
Doria had also begun to feel uneasy about artificial insemination because of the necessary involvement of physicians in the process.
"I felt that if professionals became involved they would take control of the situation," Doria said. "I felt very strongly about staying in control of something that was so important to me."
A friend suggested that she take a vacation in Seattle to ease her
"A second friend discovered a lesbian group in Seattle that specialized in the artificial insemination of lesbians," Doria said. "They were a group of lay persons and that alleviated my fears about staying in control."
controls
Doria said the trip luckily coincided with the time she would be ovulating.
"They did three inseminations over an 18 hour period." Doria said. "The sperm came from two unidentified donors."
"I came back to Lawrence and within 48 hours I knew I was pregnant," she said. "I was very lucky because it is rare for someone to get pregnant on the first try."
one named the baby boy Tony, after a male friend in college and because she liked how it sounded with her last name, she said.
Shortly after the baby was born, Doria met her partner. They are raising the child together.
Aletha Huston, professor of human development, said there was no evidence that children of lesbians would be confused about their sex roles.
Huston said the studies showed that the majority of the children ended up being heterosexual.
Tolbert said she did not think male children of lesbians would have any problems with their sexuality.
"Many male children are being raised by single (heterosexual) mothers and they don't have any problems being male." Tolbert said.
Doria was not worried that Tony, now 3, would not have males around on a daily basis to emulate.
Doria said that Tony would benefit in several ways by being raised in a lesbian household.
"There's not that many male role models that I want him to emulate anyway," Doria said. "In terms of spending time with men, I encourage my male friends to spend time with Tony."
"He won't grow up learning sexist beliefs because he won't be around them," Doria said. "He won't see you. He won't give favors because of their gender."
Patty Doria, a lesbian, enjoys raising her 3-year-old son, Tony, who was born after artificial insemination.
Commission candidates disagree on human rights amendment
by Marian Weeks Kansan staff writer
members of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas had a vigil Jan. 24 to mark the anniversary of the city's 3-2 vote tabling the amendment.
Candidates for city commission spoke this week about whether they would favor an amendment rejected last year that would have prohibited discrimination against people for their sexual orientation.
The amendment to Human Rights Ordinance 5436 would have provided assistance from the Lawrence Human Relations/Human Resources Department to people who felt they had been discriminated against in restaurant and public places such as restaurants and grocery stores.
citizens from being discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, ancestry or handicap.
The ordinance does not now protect citizens against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
of sexual orientation. Those who feel they have been discriminated against because of the characteristics specified in the ordinance can get assistance from the Human Relations/Human Resources Department. Homosexuals as a class cannot.
The city does not keep records of complaints based on sexual orientation because the city commission has not given the department power and responsibility to assist gays and lesbians.
Current ordinance
Candidates' views
sexual orientation in the human rights ordinance last January.
Dennis Constance, city commissioner running for re-election in the Feb. 28 city commission primary election, said he had voted to include
Commissioner Mike Rundle joined Constance in voting for the amendment. Commissioners Mike Amyx, Bob and Bob Schumm voted against it.
Human Relations Ordinance 5436 gives powers to the city to protect*
Constance said, "When I campaigned the first time, I ran on a position that Lawrence is home to people before it is anything else. It's a logical extension of that thinking that people have to have the opportunity to have a home.
"The evidence suggested at that time that for some people there is a real and potential denial of that right." Constance said.
Kristi Lewis said that she also would like to enhance its ordinance to include a preference.
"Basically, I don't feel a person should be discriminated against just because of their sexual preference," Lewis said.
Lewis said. She said that discrimination based
don't believe that the government should be passing any kinds of laws that tell people how to live.
Tom Graves City Commission candidate
on sexual preference also fed unfair discrimination against AIDS victims.
John Barbian said he thought the amendment should apply only to large apartment complexes and not to people who rent out rooms in their homes or to people who are choosing roommates for themselves.
Marci Francisco said she would support an amendment because nobody wanted to be discriminated against.
Tom Graves said he would vote not to extend the ordinance to include
"I don't believe that the government should be passing any kinds of laws that tell people how to live. I believe that the government should get off our backs and that's why I'm running," Graves said.
Francis Leroy Young said he believed such an ordinance would not make any difference.
sexual preference.
make my difference.
"I don't think it's the city's business." Young said.
"Homosexual acts are a misdemeanor in the state," Penny said.
"I don't think there's enough proof of harassment. I think Lawrence treats all groups good."
"I'd vote as Amyx, Schumm and 'Praeager voted in the last consideration of the ordinance,' he said of the women who wished to table the amendment in 1987.
Ellis R. Hayden said he thought the city commissioners did the right thing last year when they voted down the amendment.
"I think they have the same rights that I have now." Hayden said.
that I have now. Hayes said.
Jeff Arensberg also said he would not support an amendment to the ordinance.
"I think the decision of the city commission is one I would have made. I'm not aware of any discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodation.
"If there were problems shown to me, if it became a problem, then I would look at it. I'm not in favor of the answer of any kind." Arsen berg said.
Shirley Martin-Smith said she would vote against a change in the amendment.
Terry Summers, Stanley W. Harris, George Heckman and Ken Dzieuwelski said they were undecided.
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