Insight with Marie-Clémence Bordet-Nicais on starting a family as a same sex couple in France

In our latest Insights series, we had the privilege of speaking with Marie-Clémence, a mother of two, as she reflects on her journey of creating a family alongside her partner, Aurore.

Marie-Clémence's path to building a family with a woman was not easy, and she opens up about this transformative experience in her book, titled "We Don't Choose Who We Love."

During our conversation, she shared her personal insights and reflections with us.

She also organizes the Family Pride Festival in Paris, alongside the Famille.s association, which is a festival to celebrate the diversity of families!

Marie Clémence, when and how did you meet Aurore?

I met Aurore in 2008, during an internship in Paris. I was in a relationship with a man and I came from a traditional background. Aurore was my colleague, 8 years older than me, and a lesbian. We fell in love!

When did you both decide you wanted to start a family?

For me since the beginning, I always wanted to start a family. I was lucky enough to grow up in a loving and safe family cocoon. For Aurore, it was the opposite. It took her years to agree to embark on this adventure with me!

You wrote a book: We Don’t Choose Who We Love.
What made you want to share your story?

I felt very alone and felt that I didn’t have any references in the first few years with Aurore, and I had to face my family, the Church and more. I felt that I needed to write to share my emotions, and defend myself, and I had the feeling that it might be useful to someone someday.

For parents, it is necessary to reassure them on the path to parenthood: surrogacy, adoption etc. There are different options and it can be very scary because the administrative and medical procedures are difficult. Things have to change and access to parenthood has to be simplified.

Are there any misconceptions you would like to address?

That my daughters lack a father! They don’t have father, have not been abandoned, and they do not suffer. They have two moms, “Mom” and “Mamoune" and that’s their balance!

What does Pride Month mean to you?

An opportunity to take advantage of the light to remember the path to follow to have rights! But Pride Month is all year for us:) We organize Family Pride Festival in Paris on May 20-21 at the Cité Fertile (Paris), alongside the Famille.s association, which is a festival to celebrate the diversity of families!

Marie-Clémence is a mother of two, who has shared her journey of creating a family alongside her partner, Aurore.

You can learn more about Marie-Clémence via her Instagram @marieclemenceb

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