Lesbian Lawmaker Carries Baby for Two Men

Utah state Rep. Christine Johnson of Salt Lake City is 16 weeks pregnant, carrying a baby for a gay male couple, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. The paper says her pregnancy is "a first, no doubt," for a Utah legislator.

Johnson, an out lesbian lawmaker, offered to be a surrogate for the men, close friends of hers, in April after they expressed frustration with the difficulty of adopting a child in Utah. State law forbids cohabitating, unmarried couples from adopting. It also prohibits same-sex couples from marrying.

"I can very much empathize with their desire to become parents and share their lives with and open their hearts to a child," said Johnson, who is mother to a 17-year-old daughter. "I'm immeasurably grateful to be a mother."

Johnson became pregnant in September. The baby is due on June 21. One of the men in the couple is the biological father and he will be the only one of men who will have legal rights as a parent--as Utah law will prohibit the other father from adopting the child.

Read the full story here.