Gay couple buys 'designer' sons from US

A GAY couple has travelled to the US to buy "designer twin boys'' through a surrogate mother at a cost of as much as $133,000. Brian Sheldon and Matthew Shaffer are one of several gay couples taking advantage of California's liberal IVF laws.  The couple ordered the two babies through Los Angeles-based American IVF pioneer Dr Jeffrey Steinberg. They even chose their preferred sex: male.  However, the Australian Family Association believes the trend is "very worrying'' because the children may have psychological problems later in life.  The association believes it is tantamount to "trafficking in children''.  The American couple say they are not Australian citizens.  They worked in management and finance at a vineyard and nursery near Euston in NSW before moving to Melbourne two years ago.  The two fathers yesterday defended their decision.  "The issue is not really a gay issue,'' Mr Sheldon said.  "It's a reproductive rights issue for everybody.''  Dr Steinberg yesterday told how he helped Mr Sheldon and Mr Shaffer achieve their dream of becoming the parents of twin boys.  He said an increasing number of gay Australians were visiting him at his Californian fertility centre to begin a family - and side-step Australian law that prohibits surrogacy.   See Gay couple buys 'designer' sons from US Daily Telegraph