I read the article and I expect the same outcome that the guy expects. He'll probably lose. But I also hope it gets people to start thinking about the issue. Someone stated something to the effect that childbirth is inherently unequal. Women and even men may want equality to a certain extent, but there are fundamental differences between men and women. There are women who claim to be hardcore feminists who would never approach a man they like but would prefer to be old -fashioned, throw hints and hope that he approaches them. Pregnancy is another area where things will always be unequal unless they figure out a way for a man to carry a child. But I do think these are good issues to be discussed and argued.
I personally had a vasectomy, but I had to be questioned about what my wife thought along with what I thought before he would go through with it. I've heard of a men with no children being denied a vasectomy and even one guy in Canada being told to go get his girlfriend's permission! Even my wife thought she should be able to say whether I get a vasectomy or not and threatened (though I am not sure how seriously) to sue the doctor who performed it. It seems she would have been perfectly happy with the chance for an "accident".
While it may be impossible to make this situation perfectly equal for men and women, there are some things that need to be changed. There should be less resistance to vasectomies and the equivalent for women. There certainly shouldn't be any requirement that one has to get the permission of another person even if you are married to that person, let alone a girlfriend or boyfriend. And I find that story about the woman storing sperm in her mouth, outrageous. I've heard other crazy things like women keeping the condom and trying to empty it into themselves later. Men who are tricked should not be hooked for payment. Often that could be hard to prove, but in some cases it is easy.
I did hear one positive story yesterday (was that here?):
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060307/ap_on_re_eu/europe_frozen_embryos_1
The woman wanted to use some fertilized embryos after she had broken up with the man without the man's consent. The European Court said no. It just makes me wonder, however, would she have asked for child support if she had been allowed to use the embryos?