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CNN Live Today

Gay Couple to Adopt Quadruplets

Aired July 12, 2002 - 10:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now we have a story for you about adoption. It has a few twists. It involves not just one baby, but quadruplets. The adoptive parents are drawing extra scrutiny from some people because they are gay.

Our Brian Cabell introduces us to one family in waiting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Time is ticking down for Michael Meehan and Thomas Dysarz. Seven weeks, maybe less, until their babies arrive. That's right, babies -- as in four. They'll be parents of quadruplets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is nice.

CABELL: They need cribs and blankets, car seats and strollers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any quad strollers?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, the biggest we have is triple strollers.

CABELL: They're having their babies through in vitro fertilization. They expected one baby. No fertility drugs were used. Instead, they're having four. A gay couple with quadruplets, very likely the first ever in this country.

Michael is the biological father. A 23-year-old woman is the surrogate mother. She wants no part of the kids upbringing?

(on camera): And for those who say all kids feed a mom, what do you tell them?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll say all kids just need love, and we can provide that for them. They've been domestic partners for more than four years, but felt a longing for something more in their lives, a family.

THOMAS DYSARZ, EXPECTANT FATHER: It just feels natural, you know. I grew up in a family of seven kids. I couldn't imagine going through the rest of your life without having a family yourself.

CABELL (voice-over): They own two hair salons in Lexington, Kentucky, a town where they expected to encounter some blatant hostility to their plans for parenthood. So far, it hasn't happened.

MICHAEL MEEHAN, EXPECTANT FATHER: The overwhelming response has been positive. People are very excited, and they're very happy, and they know, especially people that know us, know these children will have a great home.

CABELL: A great home will four rambunctious dogs, who, the men say, will have to keep their distance until the babies, three boys and one girl, get older.

Another change? Their Corvette will probably have to go, in exchange for...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't flip it up at all?

CABELL: Yes, something less sporty, and more spacious. But that's hardly a sacrifice, Michael and Thomas say, because now they'll have four children to love, and raise and protect.

DYSARZ: I wouldn't want them to be gay.

CABELL (on camera): Why's that?

DYSARZ: Because of the fight I've had to go through since I was a child. I wouldn't want them to go through the same thing.

CABELL (voice-over): Thomas won't be able to legally adopt the four children. It's not allowed in Kentucky. The men, who are practicing Catholics, acknowledge that many Americans will disprove of what they're doing. Get used to it, they say, because gays want families just like straights.

(no camera): Excited?

MEEHAN: Oh, very excited. Oh, yes. Can't wait.

CABELL: You scared?

MEEHAN: I'm more anxious than anything. I can't wait to get them and hold them and hug them and show the world.

CABELL (voice-over): Seven weeks and counting until a family of two becomes an unconventional family of six.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Lexington, Kentucky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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