who we are

About Us

Gay Parents To Be is a leading international fertility and family-building resource hub for the LGBTQ+ community.

Our partner clinic Illume Fertility offers paths to parenthood including IUI, IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception. Beyond clinical care, we connect LGBTQ+ patients with a trusted partner network of surrogacy agencies, egg donor banks, and reproductive attorneys, so you have everything you need in one place.

Our mission? To empower those in the LGBTQ+ community with the information and support they need to build families with confidence.

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the team

Meet Our Founder

Gay Parents To Be was founded in 2012 by Dr. Mark Leondires, a prominent advocate for the LGBTQ+ family-building community and a gay dad through egg donation and surrogacy himself.

For more than two decades, Dr. Leondires has helped LGBTQ+ individuals and couples build families through his work at Illume Fertility. He launched Gay Parents To Be after recognizing just how challenging the path to parenthood can be for families like his.

Dr. Leondires lives in Connecticut with his husband and their two sons.

gay dads playing with their two young sons outdoors

"Going through the process of choosing an egg donor, working with a wonderful gestational carrier, and having my two sons has changed my life and my perspective on family building. It really changed the way I care for patients, especially my LGBTQ+ patients. I am so proud to help others achieve their family-building dreams."

Dr. Mark Leondires, Founder of Gay Parents To Be

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a leader in the field

Dedicated to Inclusive Care

Designated as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for eight consecutive years, both Gay Parents To Be and Illume Fertility remain committed to providing inclusive, equitable reproductive care.

The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the only national benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities on policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, and employees. Facilities are evaluated across four categories:

Non-Discrimination and Staff Training
Patient Services and Support
Employee Benefits and Policies
Patient and Community Engagement

Did you know? Illume Fertility is the only free-standing fertility clinic in the Northeast to hold HEI Leader status.

what we believe

LGBTQ+ Families Deserve Support

Every LGBTQ+ individual and couple deserves the chance to build the family they envision. Our goal is to honor and celebrate the diversity of each person who comes to us and to provide inclusive care for patients of all backgrounds and identities.

That's why we built a team of LGBTQ+ fertility and family-building experts who are equally invested in helping you reach your goals. Our philosophy is to create a supportive, compassionate, and encouraging environment for every person we work with.

We maintain active partnerships with respected voices in the reproductive field, including LGBTQ+ community advocates, reproductive law experts, top surrogacy and egg donor agencies, and LGBTQ-focused mental health counselors.

Together with our experienced clinicians, caring staff, and advanced laboratory facilities, these partnerships help us make family-building more accessible and inclusive for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community.

surrounded by support

Your Personal Care Team

Building a family is a big undertaking, but you don't have to do it alone. At our partner clinic Illume Fertility, our expert team is ready to answer your questions and help you explore your options.

Your primary physician leads your Care Team, which is made up of a nurse, patient navigator, financial coordinator, genetic counselor, and licensed clinical social worker. Different roles, one shared goal: guiding your path to parenthood with clarity.

For a limited time, you can schedule a complimentary 30-minute initial consultation with Dr. Mark Leondires.

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Join our community of LGBTQ+ patients, parents, and experts by signing up to receive updates via email. Each newsletter is packed with family-building advice, guides, family stories and more.