Two men are embroiled in a legal battle in Thailand, after a surrogate mother who gave birth to their child has refused to allow them to take the baby.
The woman, who is not biologically related to the child, handed over baby Carmen to US man Bud Lake and his Spanish husband Manuel Santos in January.
However she has since refused to sign documents to allow the child get a passport.
She claims she did not know that they were not an 'ordinary couple' because they are gay.
The family - including their 23-month-old son Álvaro - are living in Bangkok, for fear that Carmen could be taken away.
Carmen (left) and her brother Álvaro | Image: Facebook/Bringcarmenhome
The men say they chose Thailand for its top rate medical facilities and established surrogacy industry for gay couples.
Mr Lake used his sperm to fertilize the donor egg, and that embryo was subsequently implanted into the woman who they are now in dispute with.
Mr Lake told the Anton Savage Show on Today FM: "The problems started on January 27th, it was the day before we were supposed to meet in the American Embassy to do the passport paperwork, and I got a message from the surrogate's translator saying that she wanted to keep the baby".
"Being a biological father in Thailand (who) is not married to the woman who gives birth - that you have no legal rights over the child".
He told Today FM that child abduction charges have now been pressed against him.
