March 29, 2024

Israel legalises surrogacy for single mothers, not gay couples

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticised for failing to support reform.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire for failing to support an amendment to a bill that would have allowed access to surrogacy for gay men.

On Wednesday the Knesset voted 59 to 52 in favour of the law to extend access to surrogacy to single women, but stopped short of including single men in the reforms.

An amendment to the bill was proposed by Likud party member Amir Ohana, who is himself gay, that would have allowed LGBT couples to access surrogacy. But Mr Netanyahu failed to support the amendment, allegedly after being pressured by ultra-orthodox parties that oppose the move.

Gay rights groups around the country were indignant, labelling Mr Netanyahu a homophobe and calling on protesters to take to the streets. “This is a huge disappointment,” said prominent LGBT activist and Tel Aviv city council member Yaniv Waizman. “The law purposely excluded single men because [its sponsors] did want gays to be included”.

Israel legalises surrogacy for single mothers, not gay couples
Xavier Symons
Creative commons
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gay parenting
gay rights
israel
surrogacy