Our History

2009

  • Perth Western Australia based, Greg and Mark talked about becoming parents and reached out to a gay couple that were featured in Out in Perth for becoming gay parents. Through an internet search they discovered the Gay Dads Australia community group and then met the founder, Rodney, in Victoria.

2010

  • Rodney approached Greg to create the Gay Dads Western Australia (WA) community group, which connected through Yahoo Groups and emails. The intent was to connect WA gay dads and their families together in order to share parenting information and support each other.

  • Some of the dads marched with Rainbow Families in the Perth Pride March.

2011

  • The first official Gay Dads WA social event was held during Easter 2011, with more social events occurring that year.

2012

  • Gay Dads WA organised parenting sessions for the dads, and the group were featured in print media with Sunday Times Magazine and Scoop. Social events continued throughout the year.

2014

  • The social group transitioned from Yahoo Group to Facebook with the continuation of creating social catch ups and connecting gay dads. It provided a source of information to both current parents and potential parents.

2019

  • Gay Dads WA featured in print media for blended families with many socials events for the families throughout the year.

2020

  • Gay Dads WA participated in the submission to federal body regarding the review of the Surrogacy Act WA.

  • Several social events were organised for the families during the year.

2022

  • Gay Dads WA supported the submission to reform the Surrogacy Act WA.

  • Gay Dads WA were interviewed by Tim Lordan of Mix 94.5 FM, sharing their passion and love as parents.

  • Gay Dads WA for the first-time participated in Perth PrideFEST, with sponsorship and support from Peter Foster MLC and Stephen Dawson MLC. Dads marched with their families and received an incredibly warm reception from the Western Australia community.

  • The media events increased membership to the Gay Dads WA Facebook community group by 20%.

  • Family social events continued during 2022.

2023

  • Gay Dads WA received a grant from Pride WA to create the gaydadswa.com.au site.

  • Many social events with increased participation due to media attention and increased membership.

  • Gay Dads WA spoke about the joys of parenting and current challenges of WA Surrogacy Legislation on the ‘We Need Therapy’ podcast series.

  • Gay Dads WA features on Perth Radio following the announcement of proposed changes to WA Surrogacy Legislation.

  • Marty Kavanagh, WA Family Lawyer, delivers a session to Gay Dads WA community, explaining the proposed changes to WA Surrogacy Legislation and the impact on our families.

  • GDWA together with Marty Kavanagh, talk about the impact of the proposed WA Surrogacy Legislation changes on ABC TV news and ABC online.

  • WA Health Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, joins a GDWA social event at the Pride WA offices to show her support for the community group.

  • GDWA partnered with Rainbow Futures WA to promote and advocate for changes in WA Surrogacy Legislation.

  • Ngala reached out to GDWA to identify ways to support our community group through our parenting journeys.

  • We arrange an event to celebrate Father’s Day together with our children.

  • Gay Dads WA joins a coalition under the banner of ‘All Kids Are Equal’ to advocate for equal treatment of children born through surrogacy.

  • GDWA participate in the annual Perth Surrogacy Seminar, led by Sam Everingham of Growing Families.

  • In support of PrideFEST 2023, GDWA hold a picnic at Perth Fair Day.

  • Representatives of Gay Dads WA are invited to attend the Pride In Parliment event at government house.

  • City of Bayswater holds a PrideFEST event for Gay Dads WA to share their parenting stories.

  • GDWA participates in the PrideFEST 2023 parade.

  • During December GDWA met with the Minister of Finance Hon. Sue Ellery, representatives of the Minister of Health, Hon. Stephen Dawson and Hon. Peter Foster to raise awareness of the ‘All Kids Are Equal’ campaign and their ongoing support for the new WA Surrogacy legislation to be implemented.

2024

  • Sam Everingham speaks out to Sky News Australia about the Pope’s comments on Surrogacy and the inequality in Western Australia.

  • GDWA and barrister Rachel Oakley speak on Sky News regarding the discrimination in WA laws.

  • GDWA commence a petition to raise awareness of the issues in WA.

  • Pride in Law supports the campaign to raise awareness through their social platforms.

  • GRAI provides support to the campaign through Facebook and newsletter articles.

  • During January we received campaign awareness from GDWA received outstanding support from our community base in promoting the campaign. Including Rainbow Futures WA, Rainbow Families WA, Perth & Southern Perth Gay Guys, Perth Rainbow Community, Perth LGBTI+ Community, Perth Queer Community, Playgroups With Pride WA, Gay Intended Dads Australia, Western Australia Surrogacy Group, Rainbow Families of Perth, Pride In Law, Growing Families and more.

  • GDWA was invited to a WA roundtable with Ruby Susan Mountford, Specialist Advisor for SOGII at the Australian Human Rights Commission and Anna Cody, Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

  • Letter sent to the Sunday Times regarding the new WA Laws. Continuing to raise awareness of the inequalities in Western Australian children, born through international surrogacy agreements.

  • During February 2024, we met with Bill Johnstone MLA, Stuart Aubrey MLA, Katrina Stratton MLA and Dr Jags Krishnan MLA, to share real life stories and advocate for law reform.

  • GDWA together with members of Surrogacy WA, met with the Western Australia Premier Roger Cook and Peter Foster MLC to share their stories and advocate for legislative change. The Premier confirmed the need for change and expressed his commitment to help WA families have their children in WA with the same legal protections as other WA children.

  • April saw GDWA with Equality Australia comment on WA Legislative Reforms.

  • In May, GDWA hosted the first WA celebration of National Families Week, with community groups Rainbow Families, Rainbow Families Western Australia, Western Australia Surrogacy Group, Playgroups With Pride WA and more. Recognising how diverse families can be and the importance of community connections and sharing our stories. Also attending on behalf of the Premiers Office, the Hon. Peter Foster MLC and on behalf of the Department of Health, the Hon. Pierre Yang.

  • In June, GDWA spoke with MP Sam Lim, Federal Member for Tangney, regarding the current situation on surrogacy and discrimination by the federal government on children born through international surrogacy arrangements.

  • In July GDWA members, featured on SBS Dateline, sharing their stories of navigating through the Thai surrogacy legislative changes during the birth of their child.

  • In August, lead by Equality Australia, Gay Dads WA joined the LGBTIQ+ communities across Australia to express our dismay and frustration at the federal government’s recent census decision.

  • During September Gay Dads WA were guest speakers at a Pride Professionals event, hosted at Gilbert + Tobin. The speech not only included his story of becoming a parent, but also talked about the need for legislative change and the advocacy work being conducted by the community.

  • Also in September, Gay Dads WA were invited to the official launch of Pride in Law WA Chapter held at the Perth WA Supreme Court Building. Pride in Law is Australia’s first and only LGBTQIA+ Association for legal professionals. The event was hosted by Thomas Wilson, President of the WA Chapter, with a keynote address by the Honourable Justice Kathleen (Kate) Glancy.

  • In October, GDWA collaborated with ABC to run a news story on a gay man moving out of Western Australia in order to pursue his parenting dream.

  • 10 November 2024, GDWA organised an event together with Rainbow Families and Playgroups with Pride WA called ‘Rainbow Families WA Pride Picnic’. The event brought together queer parents and their families to participate in games, food and a story reading. The event was kindly sponsored by the City of Baywater.

  • 14 November 2024, GDWA was invited to attend the annual Pride in Parliament event held at Parliament House, celebrating PrideFEST and the queer community.

  • 17 November 2024, GDWA collaborated with Rainbow Families and Playgroups with Pride to host a stall at Fairday under the Rainbow Families banner.  Providing the community information on becoming and being a queer parent.

  • 23 November 2024, GDWA participated in the Pride Parade for the 3rd year. Bringing dads, intended dads, our families and supporters to celebrate our community group.

  • 24 November 2024, the annual Surrogacy & Donor IVF Information Day occurred. Dads and their children attended, sharing their stories of surrogacy and helping to inform others that want to create their own families.