Gay couple win custody battle against Thai surrogate mother

A same-sex American-Spanish couple have won a high-profile custody fight against a Thai surrogate mother who decided she wanted to keep the baby when she found out they were gay. Bangkok's Juvenile and Family Court ruled that the legal guardian of the child, named Carmen, is the girl's American biological father, Gordon Lake, his lawyer Rachapol Sirikulchit said. Mr Lake and his partner, Spaniard Manuel Santos, both 41, have been stuck in Thailand since launching their legal battle after Carmen was born in January 2015. Mr Santos emerged from the court smiling and with tears in his eyes. He told reporters: "We won. We are really happy... This nightmare is going to end soon." "After 15 months, Carmen will fly to Spain," where the couple lives, Mr Santos added. The case was seen as complicated by the fact that Thai law does not recognise same-sex marriages and also by a new law that bans commercial surrogacy, which took effect after Carmen's birth. When Carmen was born, Thai surrogate Patidta Kusolsang handed over the baby to Mr Lake and Mr Santos, who left the hospital with the infant. However, they said the mother then changed her mind and refused to sign the documents to allow...