There can be many challenges that single moms or female couples face while they’re trying to conceive. On top of your day to day work and home life, additional appointments and questions about insurance may seem stressful as you try to build your family.

For 25 years, Family Equality, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them, has been gathering LGBTQ+ families from around the world in Provincetown, MA for a week of community, visibility, celebration, and pride.

Nicholas and Paul met in New York by chance. Two days later – on their first “official” date – they talked about having children. Nicholas always wanted to be a dad. As an adult, he figured surrogacy would be the easiest way. Paul preferred starting as a foster parent, then adopting, because that would take a child out of the often-cumbersome state care system as early as possible.

The world of fertility has grown and changed as the needs of families has changed. And now more than ever before, there are different populations seeking fertility care. Fertility Bridge helps fertility centers connect with their current and prospective patients in new and dynamic ways. In this episode of their podcast, Griffin talks to our very own Dr. Mark Leondires about the various paths of family-building and how fertility clinics can provide personalized care to those with differing goals and needs.

Gender is no longer a static, singular, or predetermined concept. Male/female binaries are slowly being replaced with the four commonly accepted pillars of gender: assigned sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Trystan Reese, Director of Family Formation at Family Equality, a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance legal and lived equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer families, has developed the concept of the four pillars of gender, the clearest and most thorough explanation of the gender spectrum.

June’s over, but for LGBTQ families, it’s Pride all summer! Gay Parents To Be has suggestions for celebrating through July and August. Whatever you’re looking for -- a trip around the world, a day trip, or a staycation -- we have some ideas for vacations and destinations where you’ll feel comfortable and safe while having a blast.

“Where do babies come from?” There’s a semi-standard answer to this question in our heteronormative society – something along the lines of, “Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much. . .” It’s high time for new standards. There are many kinds of family make-ups, and just as many ways to bring babies into the world. For cisgender gay, bisexual & queer men there’s a process that should explicitly be normalized and part of this conversation. But until all of the options for family building become more standard in our society, Gay Parents To Be is happy to provide answers.

Most men would agree that their fertility isn’t an everyday curiosity. It’s a topic that can make us feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. Besides, if we aren’t looking to have children right now, then why even consider looking at your fertility in the first place? My name is Kyle Tzanetis, an andrologist at RMA of Connecticut; and I am here to explain why your fertility should be important to you.

I always wanted to be a father. I know not everyone feels that but I certainly did. One might think I’d have had enough of kids, being raised one of 13 children in a loud and chaotic household, but I always felt I was meant to have kids. I had some good parenting role models. My father was a very honorable man, and doing the right thing was everything to him. Lying was akin to murder in his eyes! He gave me my moral compass. My mother had the patience of a saint. I’ll never know how she maintained her composure with all those needy kids around her constantly. She took it all in stride and never even lost her temper. Can you imagine?

It’s June, and Pride Month is once again upon us! This year something is different: It’s the 50th anniversary of the event credited with not just starting the tradition of Pride but also catalyzing a movement which has accomplished a great deal over the past 50 years. The event I am referring to is, of course, the Stonewall Riots which took place on June 28, 1969.

U.S. intended parents interested in pursuing surrogacy overseas should proceed with caution. In several recent high-profile cases, the U.S. government has denied birthright citizenship to children born overseas to same-sex married couples.

How do you pick a sperm donor? Whats the difference between IUI and IVF for moms? In our latest Facebook live, Dr. Cynthia Murdock sat with us to discuss paths to parenthood for LGBTQ moms to be. Click above to watch the video, or read on for a transcription of our chat.