'Surrogacy bill seems like an attack on singles and LGBT people'

Members of Mumbai's LGBT community react to the proposed surrogacy law that seeks to disallow live-in partners, single parents and homosexuals to become parents through surrogacy

This proposed surrogacy bill is a step back for the country. It does not recognise other kinds of relationships apart from marriage. [reacting to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s remark on homosexuality being ‘against our ethos’] As External Affairs Minister, she visits various countries in the world, but her comment was not called for. She should be open-minded and learn from what is happening in countries around the world. — Darshil Sh

Sushma Swaraj holds great respect in my eyes as a foreign affairs minister. As a human being I don’t think I feel like she deserves respect after spreading bigotry and hatred towards communities that are long ostracised. Research shows that gay people make better parents and Indian ethos and the Constitution’s article 14 and 15 is one of non-discrimination. In fact, Sushma’s statement is against Indian ethos. — Harish Iyer

The bill is unfair and seems like a direct attack on single parents, LGBT people and live-in couples. Rather than addressing the problem, the law complicates it more and sets up chance for more illegal activities. Adoption should be made more open to these as an alternative. It seems that the government is okay with children being orphans rather than being adopted. — Sushant Digvikar

There is no effort to understand the basic problem surrogate mothers face. Banning something seems to be the easiest and convenient option for the government. Just because gay people cannot be married, there is no surrogacy for them and hence they cannot have children and have no right to family, as per this law. It is sad that it seeks to confine us to single life. — Pallav Patankar

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