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.

Gratitude is not just an attitude, it’s a choice – a choice about where to focus our attention. It doesn’t mean ignoring the injustices and misery in the world, for gratitude isn’t emotional or mental amnesia. What gratitude offers is the time to shift our attention to what is surviving, thriving and staying healthy – something that feels especially important this year.

Celebrating Your Family During the Holidays

Navigating Surrogacy Through 2020 The path to parenthood for LGBTQ individuals and couples can have some unexpected twists and turns, and 2020 has thrown its own fair share of curveballs - many of which have impacted the surrogacy process for prospective parents. But for dad-to-be duo Bret and Stephen, they’re making this path their own, and we’re so excited to be following along with them as they vlog along the way. Let’s take a look at a real family building timeline, and see how the Broadway Husbands are navigating family building through 2020 - curveballs and all.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and during this month, there’s an associated outpouring of support for cisgender, heterosexual women – much of which focuses on encouraging people to get a breast exam with their doctor. If their doctor finds anything worrisome during this exam, they will recommend a mammogram, which is an ex-ray of the chest that can detect abnormalities that are too small to be found during a regular breast exam. The American Cancer Society’s statistics highlight the important of these screenings: They predict that over 275,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2020 and report that the mortality rate for breast cancer is 1 in 38. Breast Cancer Awareness month’s mission supports and encourages life-saving screenings.

In recognition of LGBTQ+ History month, it is important to acknowledge the historical milestones made and what they mean for LGBTQ+ parents. While we are lucky enough to live in a country where there has been much progress made with respect to the rights of LGBTQ+ parents over the past 70 years, there is still much to be accomplished. For LGBTQ+ families, the future is bright – but to better understand it, we must dive into the past.

2020 has been, in many ways, a train wreck -- but somehow, our National Coming Out Day came just the same. We celebrate its 32nd anniversary today, October 11th, 2020. This date is an acknowledgement of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay rights and reminds us that coming out can be a tool of power – although sometimes it feels like a burden. We still live in a society where these conversations are often necessary.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest and most powerful LGBTQIA+ organization in the U.S. Their membership of fifty two million spans all states, in fact, all zip codes. Their dedication, since 1980, has been consistent and forward-thinking, and they provide reliable resources for LGBTQ individuals, communities, and families alike.

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

Recently, the Family Equality Council (FEC) published a comprehensive research study designed to help us better understand the landscape of family-building for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adults in America today. The report included some inspiring statistics – all of which point to the fact that the number of LGBTQ families in the United States is set to grow dramatically in the coming years. In fact, the report states 77% of LGBTQ millennials (ages 18-35) are already parents or are considering having children – a 44% increase over previous generations. This is significant.

COVID-19 has ushered in unprecedented change for almost everyone. With fluid guidelines and advice, everyone in the fertility world is working hard to be flexible and help intended parents move forward with their plans to create families through egg donation and surrogacy. As a liaison between egg donors, surrogates, parents, agencies, clinics, and more, Donor Concierge helps fertility patients navigate the uncertainties and feel somewhat in control.

As a lifelong good listener, it’s been my pleasure and honor to facilitate support groups for almost twenty years. In that time, I’ve seen miraculous connections, dynamics and outcomes. People who have nothing in common, except one single, special thread that ties them together, opening up like they’ve known each other forever. Sharing their stories, relieving other’s worries and concerns, even having a good laugh sometimes!