Bisexual actress Saffron Burrows has been pictured recently all
over the press with a very visibile new baby bump. The Law and
Order star began a relationship with fellow British actress Fiona
Shaw in 2006 after several high profile romances with members of
the opposite sex. After her role as Detective Serena Stevens on Law
and Order: Criminal Intent came to an end, the British actress, 39,
has largely stayed out of the media spotlight.
Celebrities have become more open about their lesbian
relationships over the past years, with stars such as Ellen
Degeneres, Jodie Foster, Amber Heard and Cynthia Nixon all coming
out about their partners. It was only a matter of time before some
would settle down and start a family.
Cynthia Nixon, 46, had a child with her partner Christine Marinoni
last year. After being together 7 years, Marinoni gave birth in
late 2011, bringing baby Max into the world. Max joins the two
children Nixon has from her previous relationship with the
photographer Danny Mozes. Nixon is very open on the subject of
modern and alternative methods of parenting, saying: "My kids have
four parents, including my girlfriend, who's been a stay-at-home
mum for the last year and a half." Nixon says of baby-siters: "We
don't have a lot of people we hire, but we do have the four of us
[including Nixon's ex-husband, Danny Mozes, and his partner]. The
more parents the better, you know." While Nixon and Marinon
have been very open with the media about with their relationship,
other 'out' stars such as actress Jodie Foster prefer to keep their
lives completely private. The actress will not talk about her
partner or their children in public.
Another alternative family are Melissa Etheridge and her partner,
the filmmaker Julie Cypher, who have used both IVF and adoption to
create their family. The couple used their friend, the rock star
David Cosby, as the sperm donor and Etheridge then formally adopted
the children, Bailey Jean and Beckett. Although Cosby is not
geographically close to the family, the couple find it important
that their male friends provide a male role model for their
children.
In the UK, the most recent lez-bump has appeared on Grazia
magazine's fashion features Editor, Melanie Rickey, who is the
civil partner of retail and business expert Mary Portas. Rickey was
snapped proudly showing off her pregnancy at Tatler magazine's
lesbian ball where DIVA editor Jane Czyzselska congratulated the
couple on their upcoming arrival. It will be the first child for
the couple, who got married in 2010 and have now been together for
nine years.
Lesbian parents have certainly become more visible in the public
eye, and the success of the Alternative Parenting Show is testimony
to that. Sarah Garrett, one of the show's organisers says: "It is
true that lesbians are becoming much more open as parents, which
has helped so many lesbians see parenthood as a viable
option." In September, the Alternative Parenting Show comes
to Central London, offering information on how to start a family
and important advice on subjects such as how to navigate through
the legal pitfalls of co-parenting, the adoption process and using
fertility clinics to conceive. The Alternative Parenting Show has
evolved and is the biggest show of its kind. The event gives
attendees all the information they will need on how to start a
family and includes over 50 exhibitors, with a variety of useful
seminars running throughout the day. Tickets for the show are £8,
with each seminar costing an additional £3 to attend.
The Alternative Parenting Show is on Saturday 15 September at the
Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden.
For further information visit www.alternativeparenting.co.uk
