Britain's most bizarre family? The lesbian couple who both got pregnant by a gay drag queen

 

Last updated at 14:02pm on 17th July 2007 Comments (13)

It is undoubtedly one of the most unusual family set-ups in the country.

A lesbian couple have both given birth to babies using sperm from the same father - a gay drag queen they met in a nighclub.

The bizarre deal was made when Stephanie Burns, 23, asked her lesbian friend Joanne Bartle, 40, to help her find a sperm donor so she could become a mum.

Using an NHS hypodermic syringe Stephanie got herself pregnant after Joanne injected her with sperm donated by outrageous female impersonator Ryan Egeley, 21.

 

Happy families: Stephanie, Ryan and Joanne, with children Martha Rae and Elijah Jo

 

And Joanne, who has a three-year-old son from a previous straight relationship decided she would follow suit and used a separate batch of sperm donated by Mr Egeley.

The two women becamse so close during their shared experiences that they became a couple and now raise their babies together, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Joanne and Stephanie were at a nightclub when they were introduced to drag artist Ryan Egeley who agreed to provide sperm to inseminate Stephanie.

Call centre worker Ryan Egeley, who performs his drag act as a sideline, had always wanted to have children of his own but as a gay man never thought he would be handed a the chance - let alone two.

But it all came together when Stephanie told Joanne she wanted a baby. A nurse at a local hospital gave her a handful of sterilised medical syringes to be used in her bid to become a mother.

Ryan made a sperm donation at their home and Joanne used a medical syringe for Stephanie's artificial insemination.

 

Ryan in drag

 

While doing-up a bedroom as a nursery for Stephanie's baby Joanne realised HER biological clock was ticking and she asked Ryan if he wuold be a donor too.

He agreed and the girls were stunned when their DIY insemination worked first time for Stephanie.

It took Joanne three attempts before she conceived.

Trainee truck driver Stephanie told of her surprise when the pregnancy test was positive.

She said: "I was shaking with nerves as I waited for the colour to change. I didn't really believe it would work at all. I was gobsmacked.

"We both literally jumped for joy. It was the best feeling in the world. But I felt guilty that I'd conceived so easily while Jo was still waiting. "I'd always suspected that she wanted another baby of her own.

"We prayed for a miracle and then we got it."

Doctors had told Joanne a baby was out of the question at her age and with a history of anorexia, Joanne was lucky to have carried her first son, Jonah. Sceptical medics had predicted Jo only a three percent chance of successful conception.

Sharing such unique pregnancies together forged a special bond like no other between the two women.

Stephanie had fallen for Joanne after renting a room in her house but kept her feelings hidden until after the births.

While flamboyant father Ryan was donning his stilletos and blonde wig strutting his stuff for holidaymakers on the Spanish Isle, Joanne and Stephanie have been playing happy families at home in Doncaster.

Ryan flew home to visit his children for the first time at Christmas and has now returned to the UK for good, performing his act in a Cambridge bar.

The babies, Elijah Jo, 13 months, and Martha Rae, 10 months, may face many questions about their parentage as they grow up but Joanne is unrepentant.

Joanne said: "It's an absolute dream come true. I was desperate to have another baby even though I was told chances were less than three per cent. The doctors told me not to bother as it would be a waste of time.

"But I wanted Jonah to have a younger brother or sister to play with. Now, thanks to Stephanie and Ryan, he's got two."

Jo said she had struggled with her sexuality for years before finally coming out eight years ago.

"Stephanie and I are so in love. The kids brought us together properly. We were denying our feelings for each other until then.

"Starting out as friends was the best thing we could have done. We're much stronger for it and we've got a special bond since having the kids. They're our little angels."

She admitted that the conception was far from smooth.

"I didn't know what I was doing. A nurse at the hospital gave me some syringes and I just did my best," asid Joanne.

She added: "We owe Ryan so much. I'm so grateful to him for giving us his sperm. He is chuffed to be dad so it's worked out perfectly for everyone. We don't care what people think. It's great, we're one big happy family.

"Gays and lesbians don't get much help or encouragement to have kids. There are so many gay people out there who would make good parents.

"I'm not saying everyone can do it but it is worth trying. Ryan may be gay but he must have super sperm."

Ryan said: "I love children but as a gay man I never thought I'd have any of my own. Once I met Jo and Stephanie I knew I had to help them.

"I held my little darlings for the first time last Christmas. They're perfect.

"At first I wanted to remain anonymous, I didn't want my family to find out.

"When my dad found the ultra-sound scans in my room I thought he'd hit the roof but he was thrilled, I was so happy. Dad sees the babies more than I do.

"I know they're in the safest of hands with Jo and Stephanie."

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