A draft law to remove discrimination when it comes to same-sex couples in Jersey is due to be debated by the States before the election.

That is despite opposition from the Children and Education Minister, who said more time was needed to carry out reviews and checks and resolve what he called 'highly complex and previously unknown issues found by officers.'

Deputy Scott Wickenden has said it could be ready for October.

But Deputy Louise Doublet has won a States vote to get the work prioritised, after sharing stories of same-sex couples who had to go through lengthy court proceedings to make sure both of them have parental responsibility for their own child.

"We have seen just how quickly legislation can be prepared and pass through all of the necessary checks with Covid legislation.  It can be done if this Assembly believes it to be a priority and this Assembly instructs the government for it to be done."

Last month islander Kaye Nicholson-Horn told Channel 103 about the legal process to get her wife Chantal on their son's birth certificate

"It's an additional strain when you have a new baby, it's costly and it takes time and we felt when we went to court that we were having to justify our existence as a family and seek approval and recognition which really no family should ever have to do."

An irate Senator Steve Pallett questioned why this work hadn't been done;

"This just stinks of a lack of respect for those same-sex couples that had to live through this for a period of time.  We need to get that respect back, and if we have to lodge something quicker than maybe we would like then so be it, but we have to do that."

Many other States members agreed that the government had enough time to get it sorted, including St John Constable Andy Jehan:

"It is totally wrong when local families have had to give serious consideration to gong to the UK for the birth of their child to enable both parents to be on the birth certificate.  They should be at home surrounded by family and friends, just as any other couple would enjoy."

Deputy Doublet won the vote 29-11.