“Real dads not lesbo dads” say New Fathers 4 Justice
By Milly Shaw | 22 September 2008, 13:36
Protest group New Fathers 4 Justice last week attacked lesbian parenting in an effort to promote the rights of fathers.
A small group of protesters took a banner reading ‘KIDS NEED REAL DADS NOT DAWN’S LESBO DADS” to the Bristol office of junior health minister Dawn Primarolo.
Ms Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, is a vocal supporter of gay equality, including the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
In May 2008 MPs voted to change IVF clinic legislation so they must now recognise ‘supportive parenting’ rather than ‘the need for a father’ when treating lesbians and single women.
“It is deeply sad that in trying to put across a point of view Fathers 4 Justice have descended into obvious homophiobia,” said Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill.
“Many thousands of lesbian couples bring up their childen together, something which sadly many members of Fathers 4 Justice do not. Dawn has been a dogged and supportive champion of equality on this issue and it seems unfair she has been targeted in this way.”
New Fathers 4 Justice is a reportedly a group made up of people banned from the similar protest group Fathers 4 Justice. However the distinction between the two groups is not clear, with both using superhero outfits in stunts to advocate men’s rights.
[Crossposted at Lesbilicious]
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Catherine Redfern said:
"New" Fathers 4 Justice?! Hilarious!
It's good in a way that they are showing their true colours with this latest "protest", hopefully now people will realise what they are actually all about.
Just had a thought - wouldn't it be great if there was some way that fathers could sign up to a website saying "Fathers 4 Justice don't represent me". It scares me how these people think they represent all fathers - come on pro-feminist dads, this must annoy you too?
Posted on 22 September 2008 at 2:03 PM
sianmarie said:
this is awful. as a child brought up by two women, this kind of attitude enrages me. children need love, full stop. most children will have a male influence in their lives anyway, it doesn't have to come from a father.
plus the choice of language is really offensive. do they think it will do the child any good whatsoever to feel mocked and penalised?
i am incoherent with anger. and also quite surprised as when i spoke ot fathers for justice researching an article on the embryology bill they were clear that they did not find lesbian parenting an issue. obviously this new set up do, and are usng ugly homophobia to make their ugly points.
Posted on 22 September 2008 at 2:14 PM
Jess said:
Really good idea, Catherine - it's just not on that an extremist group like fathers4justice ("new" or otherwise; the hilarious politics/drama of MRA groups splitting and reforming is a post all on its own) get all the attention.
Posted on 22 September 2008 at 2:19 PM
Lindsey said:
A week or so ago I saw a report saying Fathers4Justice had disbanded - perhaps the 'new' ones are just the nasty ones left behind after the nice ones hung up their costumes?
Posted on 22 September 2008 at 2:34 PM
Shea said:
I have always been suspicious of Fathers4Justice. They never seemed willing to really address the issues of absentee fathers and those who don't contribute to child support, beyond laying all the blame on women. I rather think that a Mothers4Justice, is long overdue. I quite like the idea of mothers dressed as Wonderwoman, Catwoman et al protesting outside the Daily Male/Express/Telegraph, after one of their frequent "blame all the ills of society on Mothers" pieces.
Posted on 22 September 2008 at 6:46 PM
Bee said:
While I have every sympathy for dads who are genuinely hard done by (and undoubtedly many do exist), Fathers4Justice, of the new or old variety, are generally in my view a pretty despicable bunch of self-obsessed misogynists. This latest escapade just confirms that even more, not that it needed to be confirmed.
No, the family courts don’t always get it right (who does?) but the law, and the courts, are nowhere near as biased against men as these individuals would have us believe. There are compelling reasons why some men are denied contact with their children... amazingly enough, it’s not always the fault of wicked scheming women/incompetent courts/everyone except the men in question. And prancing around in superhero costumes (interesting choice of attire, shows how they view themselves or wish to be viewed), pulling juvenile stunts to vie for the attention of the press, is hardly the behaviour of mature adults.
Posted on 23 September 2008 at 9:42 AM
Sarah said:
I agree with Bee, while there are undoubtedly miscarriages of justice in this area of the law as in every other, usually when a man is prevented from having contact with his children or ex-partner, there's a good reason for that, often a history of violence or abuse. It's actually very rare for a parent to be denied all contact with their children, this would only be done if it was thought necessary for the child's safety. Much more often the argument is over who has primary custody - in order to maintain a stable family life for the children as far as possible, this is usually the parent deemed to be their 'primary caregiver', and in most heterosexual couples this is the woman. I think the reason certain men see this as wrong is that they look at the issue differently - seeing it as a question of 'fairness', as if the custody of the children should be divided up equally and fairly between the parents like any other possession, whereas the family court sees it as about deciding what is in the best interests of the children, regardless of whether that is 'fair'. Because children are people, not possessions. I fear some men (and women too) lose sight of this in the fighting over who 'gets' the children.
It's a shame the whole issue gets dominated by a minority of aggressive misogynistic men, as obviously family breakup is a very difficult thing for everyone involved, and there's a real need for support services for fathers (and mothers, and children) in this situation.
Posted on 23 September 2008 at 10:43 AM
Leigh said:
As am Uncle, Brother and Son I am sickened by that banner and the mentality behind it.
Posted on 23 September 2008 at 12:44 PM
Juliet said:
Fathers4Justice (so called) seem to have time to do everything except look after the children to whom they say they want more access. They represent the tiny minority of cases in which custody of children is disputed. In the majority of cases, one parent (usually the father) is more than happy to let the other (usually the mother) continue to be the primary caregiver. A lot of fathers are simply not bothered about having contact with their children. They want rights but not responsibility.
Every child needs and deserves at least one person in their life who they know loves them unconditionally and always puts them first. It does not matter if this person is their biological parent, relative, adopted parent or whatever, or what their sexual orientation is. To know someone loves you and will always be there for you is the most important thing for any child. Without that they can never feel secure or happy, and will probably grow up with a lot of emotional problems.
Posted on 23 September 2008 at 1:40 PM
ConservaTorygirl said:
New Fathers 4 Justice?!?!?! ROFLMAO
Wankers.
Posted on 23 September 2008 at 4:11 PM
IanMiddx said:
I agree with most posters on the main issues of lesbian parents, although I am largely a supporter of FFJ . No man has been deprived of the right to see his children via the freedom that lesbians will have to become parents , except for the sperm donor who has signed his rights away via the clinic .
However I might point out that there is liable to be an increasing issue over social mothers' access following couples splitting .
Posted on 27 September 2008 at 11:29 PM