I think any one should be able to have a child if they want to–single, homo/hetero, whatever. But even when I was a teenager (I’m in my 30s now) I knew that these kids were gonna grow up and be pissed. Where are their rights in all this? I couldn’t believe how no one was thinking about the fact they’d grow up and be asking questions only to be disrespectfully told they had no “right” to know who their dad is? What nerve on the part of the doctors, mom, and donor (seller really), all three. The US needs to follow other countries’ lead and outlaw annonymous donorship. Other countries have listened to the voices of the children, as they well-should. Sperm (and egg) donation needs to be reframed with the *people* (who won’t be babies for long) they are CREATING in mind. Sheesh, isn’t it plain? It’s normal to want to know both parents’ goddamn names, even if your dad is a jackass you wanta know just to know.

These people who argue this are either unempathetic, selfish, control freaks, or all three. (Or maybe profit-motivated in the case of sperm banks themselves.) Whatever the case they aren’t thinking of the kids’ rights.

Yes of course some people have abusive parents, horrific parents, absent parents, never met their parent, yadda. None of these realities change the fact that everyone wishes to know their parents’ identities if nothing else. And to *know* this information is being *willfully and legally* with held from you for other peoples’ convenience is the height of disrespect toward these kids who were supposedly so desired.

Childrens rights first, please. So the sperm banks will be less prolific. Shouldn’t fairness and human rights trump a wanna-be parent’s right to handy and easy-access sperm (or eggs)? We are creating peopel afterall, not beningn little dreams come true. They will ahve dreams of their own as adults. Ripping up their donor’s documents is a really rude slap in the face to some of these dream-come-trues own dreams.

By the way. What brings a woman to a sperm bank? Obviously her desire for a relationship. Don’t be mean to these kids just because they have the natural human desire for a relationship themselves. Yeah alot of dads aren’t worth knowing. Doesn’t change the fact you wanna know the dude’s name.

As an adoptee and the mom of 2 children via IUI using donor sperm, I think if these people are literally giving us a gift, and if they don’t want to be found, then so be it.

My birth mother had a choice, she could have kept me, or worse, had an abortion. I don’t know if my birth father even knows I exist. I’m not going to mess with these people’s lives just because I’m curious about whose nose I have.

I am who I am, I’m me. I’m part of a family, a family who had to go through all kinds of stuff to get me. I have two parents. They love me–warts and all, and I love them–warts and all.

The same goes for my boys. Their dad is their dad.

Health issues….we all have them. I am approaching 41 and I’ve been getting mammograms and Pap smears and making an attempt to be healthy.

We all have issues. Even people who aren’t adopted have family issues and problems. It is time to get over the whole “have to find out who I am” thing.

Have some respect for the people who gave you life. If they want to be contacted, great. If not, leave it alone.

Almost anyone can make a baby. Not everyone can be a parent.

How can you retroactively say that this donor’s identity is no longer private? If a donor give permission at the time of the donation OR if privacy is not assumed at the time of donation by changing current law then fine. But I’d bet that many donors only sold their sperm because they were assured at the time that it would be private.

All that should be released is the donor’s medical information. Complete medical information is important for the child, including mental health history, history of family diseases, etc.

This man chose to remain anonymous and his wishes should be respected. If she has a problem with this, she shoudl take it up with her mother, who chose to have a child this way.

If sperm donors are no longer anonymous and might have some “child” knocking on their door 20 years later than many fewer people will consent to donate and many infertile, lesbian, or single parents will never have children at all.

Everybody wins

The children’s rights outweigh the “donors” (which aren’t donors at all, but sellers).

End of story. You will never sway me otherwise. And the laws shoudld be changed to reflect that so there is never an expectation of privacy from gamete donors (I also think they should stop paying them).

I think it should be open records at the age of majority in each country. So there’s no chance of a man getting sued for child support. But the adult children of donors have a fundamental human right to know who their biological progenitors were. This right far outweighs the right to anonymity of “donors.”