In Brief

CA Governor Signs Bill Ensuring Equal Access to Fertility Services for Same-Sex Couples 

California Governor Jerry Brown signing legislation

File Photo

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Today, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill to ensure that women in same-sex relationships and single women can access fertility services on the same terms as women in different-sex relationships. Assembly Bill 2356, authored by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner and co-sponsored by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, allows women using known donors to access certain fertility procedures that are less expensive and more effective.

"Women's issues once again are at the forefront of national debate. AB 2356 ensures that all women have equal access to fertility services," said Assemblymember Skinner. "I am grateful Governor Brown signed legislation that will eliminate barriers LGBT and single women confront when seeking to conceive." 

Clarissa Filgioun, Equality California Board President noted;

“The decisions regarding building a family are a core freedom in California. Same-sex couples have faced many barriers in forming families, including unequal access to fertility healthcare. This unequal treatment has, heartbreakingly, denied many couples the opportunity to conceive a child of their own. Signing AB 2356 works to remedy that disparity, putting the joy of having a child and building a family within the reach of all loving families."

Increasingly, same-sex couples and single women are asking trusted friends to be donors to help them conceive a child. With this signing, women who seek fertility services with a known donor who is not their partner are no longer subject to time-consuming and costly repeat testing that decreases the chance of successful conception. Now women who have unsuccessfully attempted to conceive at home with a known donor have access the same fertility services available to different-sex couples.
This law allows doctors and providers to provide services that are currently only available to different-sex couples to people using known donors. Many intended parents who would not otherwise be able to afford any fertility services will be able to access safer and more effective procedures under this new law.
The law will go into effect on January 1, 2013.

NY Republican Senator Who Voted For Equality Defeated In Primary And Won't Run As Write-In Candidate

NY State Senator Roy McDonald

ALBANY, NY -- New York Republican State Senator Roy McDonald who narrowly lost his primary race against Saratoga City Clerk Kathy Marchione, says he won't campaign on the Independence Party line on the general election ballot and will instead back his former primary opponent. McDonald was one of four GOP senators who voted to legalize same-sex marriage last year that were targeted by opponents for their votes.

Democratic Governor Cuomo earlier this week told McDonald in a letter that if the Senator decided to remain in the race, he would cross party lines and endorse him. 

“I understand the pros and cons both ways. I support whatever you decide”. 

The Governor acknowledged that a third party candidacy for McDonald “would have been an uphill battle”, but he said McDonald would have had support. Pro-same-sex marriage groups have already said they would have donated money and helped the Senator with get out the vote efforts.

McDonald says he’s quitting for the unity of the part, and will now back Saratoga City Clerk Kathy Marchione as the GOP’s candidate. If McDonald had actively campaigned, he could have split the vote with Marchione and caused the Democratic candidate in the race to win. That could have made a big difference in the Senate, where the GOP holds a razor-thin majority. McDonald says he believes in keeping the Senate in Republican hands.

St. Lawerence University's public radio reported: 

Empire State Pride Agenda’s Lynn Faria called Senator McDonald “a man of principle who made the humble decision to step aside in the interest of his party.” 

The anti-same-sex marriage group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms says the end to McDonald’s Senate career means “values voters” have followed through with their warnings against Republican Senators who voted for same-sex marriage last year. 

“Rogue Republicans are being held accountable,” said The Reverend Jason McGuire. 

Three other Republican Senators voted for same-sex marriage and ensured passage of the law in June of 2011. One, Senator James Alesi of Rochester, decided not to seek reelection for other reasons. Senator Mark Grisanti of the Buffalo area easily beat back a primary challenge, while Senator Stephen Saland of the Hudson Valley squeaked by primary challenger Neil DiCarlo. 

The New York Governor said that he does not think the outcome of the primary races should discourage other politicians in other states from sticking up for same sex marriage, if they believe it’s the right thing to do: “I think you could argue it the exact opposite way."