Same-sex couples look forward to law change granting equal parental rights 

Isle of Man Reproductive Rights Bill awaiting Royal Assent

A mother from the Isle of Man who's been campaigning for more than a decade for equal parental rights for same-sex couples says a law-change has been a long time coming.

The Isle of Man Reproductive Rights Bill, which is awaiting Royal Assent, aims to bring the Island in line with the UK's Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.

Currently, same-sex partners are not automatically recognised as parents when a baby is born through fertility treatment such as IVF.

Only the birth mother and genetic father can register as parents on the birth certificate.

This means that they are the only people who are legally recognised as having parental responsibility.

Sue Harper has two children with her partner Sara, but under the current law, only she is listed on their birth certificates.

She raised this issue in 2014 following the birth of their daughter Lily; hence why this bill is being nicknamed 'Lily's Law'.

Ms Harper told Manx Radio she cannot wait for the day they can add Sara's name alongside hers:

Last year, Legislative Council Member Tanya August-Phillips took this matter up in the form of a Private Members Bill to Tynwald.

She's been speaking to Christian Jones: