Same-Sex Couples Asked To Prove Infertility (VIDEO)

Two married same sex couples (all women) living in New Jersey will sue the state based on discrimination with regard to their seeking In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment.

The two couples, both told they were infertile, wanted to conceive with the help of IVF. However, the law in New Jersey says insurance companies will only pay for infertility treatment in women under 35, if they have proved their infertility. This proof is shown by attempting conception with two years of unprotected sexual intercourse.

Obviously, this poses quite a problem for same sex couples.

This law does not, and should not, apply to lesbians seeking IVF. The implications of the mandate means each partner of both couples are required to pay for expensive procedures to attempt conception for two years, just to prove what their doctor has already diagnosed.

The current mandate is geared for heterosexual couples. The definition of discrimination is treating someone less fairly based upon aspects such as gender, sexuality, race or religion.

Telling these women that they are required to have unprotected sex for two years to prove infertility is discrimination for same-sex couples, as heterosexual couples can easily do this at no cost, lesbians cannot.

The couples are seeking the costs of artificial insemination and IVF procedures which have been demanded of them to prove infertility, as these expenses would not have applied to heterosexual couples.

California and Maryland have both updated their laws with regard to infertility treatments, so that it applies fairly to both opposite and same sex couples. It would be as simple as changing the mandate so that infertility could be determined by a doctor.

Following is part of the complaint:

“Despite having a medical diagnosis of infertility, because, as a lesbian in a committed relationship, Erin could not show that she had unprotected sexual intercourse with a man for the requisite period, the Krupas were not protected by the mandate,” 

Dr. William Ziegler (medical director of the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey) does not think it has been done maliciously, rather through thoughtlessness. He also said:

“It’s a double standard. It discriminates against same-sex couples because they don’t have the biological equipment to have a baby the way a heterosexual couple does.”

It is not the first time same sex couples have sued the State of New Jersey. Five years ago, before same sex marriage was made legal in New Jersey, many couples also launched action based on discrimination:

 

An interesting social experiment that you won’t believe actually happened:

Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.