Evan Fowler, who is 4 1/2 months old, is showered with his mothers' love, both of them. Lisa David gave birth to the boy. Her partner, Leigh Fowler, gave him her last name.
"I'm one of those people who's always wanted children," Fowler says. "I love children."
Fowler and David have been a couple for seven years. They are among a growing number of gays and lesbians choosing to enrich their lives with parenthood. They realize Evan will grow up facing a social stigma against their lifestyle.
Rob Pollack, director of Mental Health Services at Triangle Family Services, says children like Evan eventually become aware their family is different and sometimes experience anxiety.
"In our community, there are always those people who absolutely hate minority groups - whether it be through ethnicity or sexual orientation," Pollack says. "They can be nervous about having friends over. Some of these friends may find this to be very strange and may view them in a not very positive way."
David says they cannot provide 100 percent of everything, but they are going to provide the best home they can for him.
"We're gonna teach him some good values," David says. "We're gonna show him there are plenty of other families out there like his own family and that people that treat him like that are ignorant."
David and Fowler plan to provide Evan with male role models. They hope to one day provide him with siblings to give him all the love and support he needs.
They also consider themselves fortunate. Their employers granted each of them three months of maternity leave.
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