Work to allow same-sex birth certificate continues

Work is continuing to allow same-sex couples in Guernsey to have both their names on their child's birth certificate, the States has said.

Under the current law, which was passed in 1935, only one parent in a same-sex couple can be named on the certificate, which can cause families complications when travelling separately.

The Policy & Resources Committee responded to a written question say the States had agreed to update the law five years ago, but making the change had been "more complicated and nuanced than anticipated" by those behind the move.

It said this was due to "the number of competing human rights involved, such as those of donors, intended parents, surrogates and the child".

The committee said it was trying to move the plans forward "as quickly as possible", and a public consultation was due to be launched soon.

The move would bring the island in line with Jersey, which made similar changes in November.

In her question to the committee, Deputy Jayne Ozanne also asked whether couples would be able to reclaim the "not insignificant costs" they had incurred while waiting for the policy to be implemented.

The committee said: "The fact that the primary purpose of registering the birth of a child is for the child and not the parents, it is not envisaged that there will be a mechanism to reclaim any costs."

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