‘Sorry for that insensitivity’: Susanna Reid apologises for asking lesbian couple ‘who will be mum’ on GMB as they detail suing NHS over ‘discriminatory’ fertility policy
- Influencers Megan, 34, and Whitney Bacon-Evans, 33, known as Wegan, appeared on the breakfast show on Tuesday morning
- The married couple – who have been together for 13 years – are campaigning to make it easier for same-sex couples to have a family
- During the interview, Susanna, 50, caused shock when she asked the duo: ‘Who wants to be mum? How many children would you like to have?’
- Megan and Whitney heavily criticised the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group Frimley’s fertility policy for inequality
Susanna Reid apologised for asking a lesbian couple planning to have a family ‘who will be mum’ on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain.
Influencers Megan, 34, and Whitney Bacon-Evans, 33, appeared on the breakfast show to discuss suing the NHS over its ‘discriminatory’ fertility policy.
The married couple – who have been together for 13 years – are campaigning to make it easier for same-sex couples to have a family funded through the NHS.
During the interview, Susanna, 50, asked: ‘What are your dreams, what are your hopes? Who wants to be mum? How many children would you like to have?’ Megan replied: ‘Well we both want to be mum..’ leading to the apology.
Oh dear: Susanna Reid was forced to apologise for asking a lesbian couple planning to have a family ‘who will be mum’ on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain’
Susanna quickly said: ‘Sorry, of course you both want to be mum as in, of course you’ll both be mum… I apologise for that insensitivity…’
She then continued: ‘Who wants to carry the baby?’
The couple seemed unoffended by the question and carried on with the interview, where they explained the expenses and hardship they faced trying to have kids.
The pair are social media stars who also featured on TV show Say Yes To The Dress.
Megan and Whitney heavily criticised the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group Frimley’s fertility policy.
They say they are required to undergo 12 rounds of costly private treatment before they can get NHS support.
Difficult: Influencers Megan, 34, and Whitney Bacon-Evans, 33, appeared on the breakfast show to discuss suing the NHS over its ‘discriminatory’ fertility policy
They estimate the cost of having a child as a female same-sex couple, or as a single woman, could reach £50,000.
A spokesman for NHS Frimley CCG told MailOnline: ‘The fertility services we provide are based on NICE guidance. While we can’t comment on individual cases we will fully engage with any legal proceedings.’
On Sunday, the couple launched the landmark case against their NHS fertility clinic, claiming it discriminates against same-sex couples.
Over the weekend, Megan said they wanted to start a family after being together for 12 years – but they were ‘shocked to discover discrimination in place after embarking on our baby journey’.
Mission: The married couple – who have been together for 13 years – are campaigning to make it easier for same-sex couples to have a family funded through the NHS
To become eligible for IVF treatment, patients must prove they are infertile. Heterosexual couples can qualify after trying to conceive naturally for two years.
But their NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG), Frimley, requires female same-sex couples to self-fund 12 intra-uterine insemination treatments – which involve inserting sperm into a woman’s womb – costing around £30,000 or more.
And CCGs in England are accused of a postcode lottery as the number of private insemination treatments required varies from three to 12 before they offer the same help given to heterosexual couples.
Northern Ireland requires four, while Scotland and Wales impose no additional costs.
Now Megan and Whitney have launched a £10,000 fundraiser to cover their legal fees.
Lawyers will today apply for a judicial review on behalf of the couple who are from Windsor in Berkshire.
Questions: During the interview, Susanna, 50, asked: ‘What are your dreams, what are your hopes? ‘Who wants to be mum? How many children would you like to have?’
They allege discrimination under the Equality Act and European Convention on Human Rights, in what could become a major test of NHS England’s treatment of LGBT+ families. If permission is granted, the case could be heard in January.
The couple, who featured on the BBC’s Britain’s Relationship Secrets documentary, have so far spent £8,000 on donor sperm and mandatory pre-insemination tests.
Campaigners claimed the NHS’s policies penalise LGBT+ individuals, forcing many into debt or dangerous, unregulated online deals with men, risking sexual assault, disease and custody battles, The Guardian reported.
It comes after on Monday GMB hosts Susanna and Martin Lewis couldn’t hold back their laughter during a segment about passing wind.
WHO ARE WEGAN AND WHAT ARE THEY WORKING TOWARDS?
Megan her wife Whitney have launched a landmark case against their NHS fertility clinic, claiming it discriminates against same-sex couples.
The couple – who are known as Wegan to their 210,000 followers across YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok – are demanding equal fertility treatment.
The couple said they have to pay tens of thousands of pounds to become eligible for NHS-funded IVF compared with heterosexual couples.
Megan yesterday said they wanted to start a family after being together for 12 years – but they were ‘shocked to discover discrimination in place after embarking on our baby journey’.
Megan and Whitney
To become eligible for IVF treatment, patients must prove they are infertile. Heterosexual couples can qualify after trying to conceive naturally for two years.
But their NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG), Frimley, requires female same-sex couples to self-fund 12 intra-uterine insemination treatments – which involve inserting sperm into a woman’s womb – costing around £30,000 or more.
And CCGs in England are accused of a postcode lottery as the number of private insemination treatments required varies from three to 12 before they offer the same help given to heterosexual couples.
Northern Ireland requires four, while Scotland and Wales impose no additional costs.
Now Megan and Whitney have launched a £10,000 fundraiser to cover their legal fees.
Lawyers will today apply for a judicial review on behalf of the couple who are from Windsor in Berkshire.
They allege discrimination under the Equality Act and European Convention on Human Rights, in what could become a major test of NHS England’s treatment of LGBT+ families. If permission is granted, the case could be heard in January.
The couple, who featured on the BBC’s Britain’s Relationship Secrets documentary, have so far spent £8,000 on donor sperm and mandatory pre-insemination tests.
Campaigners claimed the NHS’s policies penalise LGBT+ individuals, forcing many into debt or dangerous, unregulated online deals with men, risking sexual assault, disease and custody battles, The Guardian reported.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock said in 2019 that ‘sexual orientation should not be a factor in access to IVF’.
Megan and Whitney yesterday said: ‘It is time for discrimination to end and for there to be equal treatment with heterosexual couples in the healthcare system.’
They are backed by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which says restrictions on funding IVF ‘amount to a tax on LGBT+ families’.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) – the health regulator – recommends three IVF cycles for patients under 40 if they have been trying for two years.
The couple want all CCGs to abide by these rules for all patients, regardless of what kind of relationship they are in.
Frimley, which serves 800,000 patients across Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire, denies discrimination.
It did not respond to a request for comment yesterday. The Department of Health said earlier this year that access to fertility services should be equal.
A planned review of variations was pushed back due to the pandemic.
Susanna giggled as her co-presenter Martin, 49, hoisted his legs into the air and pretended to fart, while talking about President Joe Biden breaking wind in front of the Duchess of Cornwall at the COP26 climate summit.
Despite the presenters finding the incident hilarious, viewers at home were less than impressed as they told them to ‘grow up’, after watching the moment – which was accompanied by farting noises playing over the studio speakers.
One moaned on Twitter: ‘Grow up, you idiots. Behaving like schoolkids.’
Awkward: Megan replied: ‘Well we both want to be mum..’
Another said: ‘Does anybody else think that the discussion about President Biden ‘farting’ is ridiculously childish. Giggling fools?’
A third added: ‘Surely better things to talk about than farting?’
While another wrote: ‘I see the famous British sense of humour still finds farting funny as f*ck… complete with sound effects..’
One other said: ‘Really! So this morning we have had a pointless 10 munute childish talk about farting, and we now have a debate about Christmas parties.
Ha! It comes after on Monday GMB hosts Susanna and Martin Lewis couldn’t hold back their laughter during a segment about passing wind
‘Really? GMB you never fail to amaze me with your pointless conversations.’
The presenters were discussing President Biden reportedly breaking wind ‘loudly’ while making small talk with the Duchess of Cornwall, who ‘hadn’t stopped talking about it’ since.
Martin said: ‘If we need to fart, we need to fart.
Reaction: Despite the presenters finding the incident hilarious, viewers at home were less than impressed as they told them to ‘grow up’, after watching the moment
‘I wonder if we are a little bit po-faced about farting, do you think presenters can hold it in when they’re sitting in on a three hour shift presenting telly?’
He added: ‘It can be really bad for someone’s digestive health to keep it in!’
Susanna replied: ‘I don’t think deliberately going out and having no self control when you have self control should be encouraged.’
Martin returned to hosting duties after Richard Madeley presented the show last week, when he revealed he was becoming a permenant fixture.
Richard told viewers he would be back to host in the New Year following a stint on I’m A Celebrity.. Get Me Out Of Here! in Wales later this month.
Lol: Susanna giggled as her co-presenter Martin, 49, hoisted his legs into the air and pretended to fart, while talking about President Joe Biden breaking wind
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