A prominent Matilda’s soccer star has hit out Family First’s position that all children, wherever possible, have the right to the love of their mother and father.

Star midfielder Katrina Gorry, like team-mate Sam Kerr, has brought children into her lesbian relationship.

In a podcast this week Gorry attacked Family First for insisting that children should not be forced to miss out on the love of their mother or father because of adult lifestyle choices.

Gorry has two children with her fiancée Clara Markstedt, son Koby born last year and three-year-old daughter Harper.

Asked about Family First’s views, Gorry told news.com.au’s From The Newsroom podcast:

“It’s tough.

“When I look at my kids, they’re full of love, they’re full of happiness, you know?

“Yeah they don’t have a dad, but they’ve got two mums.

“Harper thinks it’s pretty cool that she’s got two mums and I see the life that they live.

“I’ve seen kids being brought up with a mum and a dad and not treated the same way.

“And I think if you’re two healthy parents and you can give them love and happiness, then what’s left to give?

“It shouldn’t matter if you’re a male or female. It should just matter if you can love the child and give them everything that they need.

“And that makes me really upset that people are still, you know, living in that age and in that era and can’t see how loved these kids are.

“We spend so much money just to have them. So, you know, we’ve made that decision together to be able to have the kids.

“We’ve spent a lot of money to do it and I think that says more than anything.”

While Family First welcomes the love and money Gorry and Markstedt undoubtedly bestow on their children, we maintain that children want and need more.

A loving stepmother cannot replace the love of the child’s father.

Kids sometimes miss out because of tragedy or desertion, but they should never miss out to suit the sexual preferences of adults.

An important public policy discussion about the rights of children will be held in Sydney next week, hosted by former deputy prime minister John Anderson.

It will feature US child advocate Katy Faust, who was raised by lesbians, speaking about her new book Pro Child Politics.

Faust writes that most adoptees, despite having loving non-biologically related parents,  are curious about their first parents.

“Children created through sperm and egg ‘donors’ report similar genealogical bewilderment, sometimes describing a deep-seated feeling that they do not fit in, or a feeling of ‘otherness’.

“Sixty-four percent of donor-conceived adults agreed with the statement: ‘My donor is half of who I am’.”

“When it comes to family, no one gets a pass. Every adult – single, married, gay, straight, fertile, and infertile – must sacrifice for the rights of children. The only alternative is for kids to sacrifice their rights, well-being, identity, longines, safety, and health for the sake of adult desires. That is unjust.”

Despite being accused of being “vile” and “homophobic”, Family First believes children need to again be placed at the centre of public policy.

This won’t suit some same sex attracted couples and it won’t suit some straight people who likewise wish to bring children into the world who are deliberately severed from one or more of their biological parents.

The debate about the best interests of children needs to be held free of slurs. Debate, not demonisation, is the way for a civil society to ensure kids rights come first.