Information pack
This information kit was produced with the aim of informing debate around rainbow family law reform in Victoria. These are complex and confusing issues, and we are keen for the information and personal stories herein to be considered by those making public statements or writing stories on the issues, as well as those making policy, and hopefully, legislative change.
The kit was produced in the leadup to the launch of the Victorian Law Reform Commission's final report of their Enquiry into Assisted Reproductive Technology and Adoption. We are hopeful of positive final recommendations to the Victorian Government, and in coming months of seeing these translate into legislation for equal rights for our children and families.
Much of the content of this information kit is used in various ways throughout this website. Permission is granted for all or part of the kit to be reproduced with appropriate acknowledgements. For more information please contact campaign coordinator Felicity Marlowe on 0411 593 607 or via email.
| Information kit | |
Definitions and terms | downloads: 585 | type: pdf | size: 98 kB |
Definitions of a range of terms used within the information kit relating to roles within rainbow families. |
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Key principles | downloads: 537 | type: pdf | size: 85 kB |
Key principles underlying the reforms advocated by Rainbow Families Council, including for example the primacy of the rights and best interests of children. |
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Recommendations for reform | downloads: 505 | type: pdf | size: 111 kB |
Summary of reforms advocated by the Rainbow Families Council through its Love Makes a Family Campaign, arising from community consultations, including in response to the VLRC Enquiry. |
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The rights and best interests of children | downloads: 551 | type: pdf | size: 115 kB |
In Victoria, not all children are treated equally. Here are ten reasons why law reform is needed to support the rights of children in rainbow families. |
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Women's health and wellbeing | downloads: 528 | type: pdf | size: 116 kB |
Many of the issues explored by the VLRC Enquiry have implications for women's health and wellbeing. This sheet includes quotes from a number of prospective parents affected by the laws. |
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Impacts of the current laws | downloads: 535 | type: pdf | size: 93 kB |
Case scenarios illustrating the impacts of the current laws on children and families, as well as the potential impacts of some of the VLRC's interim recommendations on parentage. |
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Family stories | downloads: 551 | type: pdf | size: 366 kB |
Personal stories from a range of same-sex parented families, showing the impacts of current laws on children and families, as well as many of the positive aspects of being part of a rainbow family. |
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The research says | downloads: 540 | type: pdf | size: 116 kB |
Summary of key findings from Australian and international research about children raised in rainbow families, lesbian mothers, gay fathers and attitudes of the broader community. |
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What the community wants | downloads: 530 | type: pdf | size: 137 kB |
Estimates of the numbers of families with children in Australian gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex communities, and summaries of several surveys into community preferences for reform. |
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Frequently Asked Questions | downloads: 553 | type: pdf | size: 121 kB |
Responses to some of the questions often asked of same-sex parents about our children and families, including the impacts on children, how people create their families, the roles of parents and donors etc. |
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But what about ... | downloads: 536 | type: pdf | size: 127 kB |
Responses to some of the common objections raised against rainbow family law reform, for example that children have the right to a mother and father, or that same-sex relationships are unstable. |
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The case for home insemination | downloads: 2416 | type: pdf | size: 141 kB |
Discussion paper on an area of concern relating to the interim recommendations of the VLRC Enquiry, arguing that recognition of children's parentage should not be affected by their method of conception. |
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The case for universal presumptive parentage | downloads: 475 | type: pdf | size: 129 kB |
Discussion paper on an area of concern relating to the interim recommendations of the VLRC Enquiry, arguing for equality in the form of a simple universal presumption of parentage in rainbow families. |
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The case for gay male donors | downloads: 543 | type: pdf | size: 119 kB |
Discussion paper arguing against Victorian fertility clinics exclusion of gay and bisexual men from being clinic donors, and their effective discouragement of families with known donors from using clinics. |
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