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.
26 November 2024, GDWA together with WA Surrogacy were invited to meet Premier Cook and the Minister of Health, Hon. Amber Jade Sanderson. We shared our disappointment that the legislation was not delivered. Premier Cook gave his commitment to delivering the legislation immediately after re-election in March 2025.
2025
11 January 2025, Campaign commenced to inform the WA government of the necessity for WA people to have Surrogacy Laws that support. An incredible 3,400 emails were sent to WA politicians.
15 January 2025, GDWA receive an official letter from the Minister of Health acknowledging the advocacy work of GDWA and committing to delivering the legislation during the first half of 2025.
16 January 2025, Channel 7 News do a story on surrogacy and the promised reforms.
17 January 2025, Story in OutinPerth regarding surrogacy reforms.
17 January 2025, Story in The West Australian.
19 January 2025, Rainbow Picnic in Kings Park together with PGWA.
13 February 2025, Meeting with Ron Sao MP for Cannington, to advocate for surrogacy support.
04 March 2025, WA Surrogacy was featured in News Corp Australia's state mastheads: Victoria: Herald Sun, New South Wales: The Daily Telegraph, Queensland: The Courier-Mail, South Australia: The Advertiser, Tasmania: The Mercury & Northern Territory: Northern Territory News.
15 March 2025, Gay dads night out - dinner in Northbridge.
14 April 2025, Campaign to government key decision makers asking for the reforms now while Labor has the upper and lower house majority. Over 170 emails sent.
19 April 2025, Rainbow Families East WA Event at Volcano Park.
20 April 2025, GDWA Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
23 April 2025, Meeting with the Min. of Health, Hon. Merredith Hammat MLC to discuss working together and delivering the legislation.
07 May 2025, Advocating with Hon Dr Brad Pettitt MLC of the Greens Party to support the upcoming reforms.
14 May 2025, Meeting with the Premier’s team to reinforce the need for the reforms to happen now.
15 & 16 May 2025, Sharing our lived experience with the Min. of Health’s team to help assist with the reforms.
17 May 2025, Released the first edition of the Rainbow Families of WA Colouring Book.
17 May 2025, National Families Week Picnic for Rainbow Families of WA on IDAHOBIT Day.
20 May 2025, Meeting with the CEO of Ngala and Founder of Rainbow Families Australia to discuss further partnership.
28 May 2025, Presenting the findings of the Rainbow Families Survey to the WA Department of Communities for inclusion in the LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Strategy to WA Government.
29 May 2025, Invited to attend the Monash University Round Table Discussion involving key figures in the surrogacy community across Australia to feed into the ALRC submission on Surrogacy Law Reform nationally.
31 May 2025, GDWA partnered with Play Groups With Pride WA to deliver a free First Aid Course to Rainbow Family Parents.
10 June 2025, Advocating with Hon Dr Brian Walker MLC Member of the Legislative Council for the Legalise Cannabis Party.
11 June 2025, Created the ALRC Questionnaire on Surrogacy Laws for community members to complete online.
23 June 2025, Released Podcast of the Rainbow Families of WA Survey submission.
30 June 2025, Submission made to the ALRC on national surrogacy reforms, to be presented to government in July 2026.
30 August 2025, The first ever Barn Dance for Rainbow Families & Kids at Perth City Farm.