When lesbian couple Jennifer Schreiner and Angela Bauer wanted a baby to complete their family in 2009, they turned to a friend, William Marotta, to donate his sperm. But the unorthodox “new normal” arrangement may lead to financial ramifications for the well meaning 46-year-old married man.
The state of Kansas sued Marotta for child support of the now 3-year-old girl after Schreiner filed for state assistance.
Marotta told The Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper he’s “a little scared about where this is going to go, primarily for financial reasons.”
From WPTV.com:
The state contends the agreement between Marotta and the women is not valid because Kansas law requires a licensed physician to perform artificial insemination.
“If a sperm donor makes his contribution through a licensed physician and a child is conceived, the donor is held harmless under state statue. In cases where the parties do not go through a physician or a clinic, there remains the question of who actually is the father of a child or children,” Angela de Rocha, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said in a statement.
A hearing on a motion by Marotta’s attorneys to dismiss the case is scheduled for Jan. 8.
Marotta told wptv he didn’t blame Schreiner for giving up his name to the state.
“I resent the fact that Jennifer was pressured into doing that in the first place,” he said. “That was wrong — wrong by the state.”
Marotta and his wife, Kimberly, have no biological children of their own but they are foster parents.
