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Surrogacy allows those in a same-sex relationship to do something that wasn’t possible 40 years ago – have their own children. You've likely already explored the surrogacy process, and now you’ve ended up here, trying to determine why the surrogacy process costs so much. 

One of our favorite moments here at Gay Parents To Be and RMA of Connecticut is when we receive cute baby photos from proud parents. Not only do they brighten up our days, desks, and office walls, but they are also hugely motivating - they remind us that we are helping people build the families of their dreams, even when the journey may seem long and the obstacles challenging.

For prospective parents in the LGBTQ+ community, there are many pathways that you might take to build your family. Whether you decide to pursue a private or public adoption, or biological family building, there is now a wealth of information available online to help you get started, to take that first step. For dads-to-be who have chosen to pursue biological family building with the help of an egg donor and gestational carrier, the journey ahead is exciting, yes, but also slightly overwhelming. How do you know that you are choosing the best clinic for your journey, putting your future family in the best hands?

Now that your surrogate is pregnant, she’s eating for two. But this isn’t just any unborn baby—this is your baby. Understandably, the health development of your unborn child is one of your primary concerns now. Can you ask your surrogate to follow a special diet?

My husband Adam and I got married in 2017, and we had always talked about starting a family of our own. Being a cheerleading director, I always wanted a little girl, while Adam wanted a little baby boy. We decided the only way this could ever happen would be to either adopt two babies, or go through a surrogacy journey and try for twins. We started looking into clinics and found RMA of Connecticut and their Gay Parents To Be program. We met with Dr. Leondires, or “Dr. L” as we came to know him, and we trusted everything he told us.

I’ve heard more than a few analogies for the surrogacy process since I started working with Gay Parents To Be. Family building through IVF and surrogacy - the path that many dads chose to complete their family - has been equated to a journey, a logistics equation, and a puzzle made of many pieces. To be sure, given that most surrogacy journeys for dads include:

Starting a family isn’t always easy, especially if you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re going this journey alone or hope to add a child with your same-sex partner, the road to achieving a family can be both daunting and confusing. First, you need to decide whether you’d like to adopt or build a biological (i.e. genetically linked) family.

If you’re a couple beginning the surrogacy process (what many of you may know as a “journey”) you may know that there are many decisions ahead of you. Here at Gay Parents To Be and RMA of CT, we work with dads-to-be as they move through the process, and we know which of those decisions are “no-brainers,” and which of them can prompt further discussions and deliberation.  

September 30th is National Podcast Day, and in preparation we rounded up the best podcasts on gay family and fertility.

During this year’s virtual version of Pride month, many companies are expanding webinars, info sessions, and discussions to allow the public to continue learning about the LGBTQ community. As many of you know, Gay Parents To Be was founded by Dr. Mark Leondires after he went through his own family building journey. While he and his husband are now proud parents of two children through the IVF & surrogacy process, Dr. Leondires spends his spare time advocating for LGBTQ inclusivity and fertility benefits for all.

I think we can all agree that there’s a lot going on in the world right now. Over the past few months, many people have been sheltering in place, watching as countries and communities are affected by COVID-19. Others have been on the front lines as medical professionals or other essential workers, putting themselves at risk by doing their jobs, helping those around them. And over the past week, protesters around our country and the world have come together in support and solidarity to highlight injustice, showing just how much change still needs to be made. 

If I had to use one word to describe the month long observance that is Pride (other than “pride” itself), I would say “connection.” Over the last 50 years, Pride has blossomed into an awesome shared celebration of the LGBTQ community. As we celebrate LGBTQ individuals in our own lives and mainstream media, this month allows us to raise awareness of the changes that are still to come as we work towards greater equity and inclusion. More than anything, though, Pride is an opportunity to gather together as a family. To march, to parade, to dance, to hold hands, and to revel in the spirit of the LGBTQ community.