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Let's be honest - surrogacy can feel very intimidating. As much as you may long to grow your family, the process is often quite overwhelming. For LGBTQ+ dads-to-be, there's so much to think about (like how to choose a surrogacy agency, egg donor, gestational carrier, fertility practice, and attorney), that it's sometimes hard to even know where to start.

As parents (or parents-to-be), you may know that it is not always easy to find books, TV shows, and movies that represent diverse families. In its annual Where We Are on TV report last year, GLAAD announced that representation of LGBTQ+ characters in mainstream media was at an all-time high, but that it was still only at 11.9%. While we continue to push for more inclusive character representation on our screens, it’s also important to showcase families of all shapes, sizes, and colors early in our children's lives. We’ve pulled together a list of our favorite LGBTQ+ children’s books featuring Black characters for you and your child to discover together.

After four long years, Bret and Stephen's difficult surrogacy journey finally came to an end with the birth of their first child. Read on to hear about everything that happened on their challenging path to parenthood, what they learned about LGBTQ+ family building, and what's next for their little family of three!

If you’ve started researching biological family building options, chances are you’ve probably already realized that the process can be rather overwhelming - and potentially costly! Many LGBTQ+ parents-to-be consider using a known donor to help grow their family, like a close friend or even a relative not linked to the genetically-intended parent (more on that below).

Becoming first-time parents in "normal" times is challenging enough, can you imagine becoming a parent during a global crisis? New dads Tyler and Eric share their winding journey through surrogacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, how it affected their timeline, and what it's been like to learn to see the world through their baby girl's eyes.

As Mother’s Day approaches, it brings up the question - how do two-dad or one-dad families celebrate the occasion, if at all? If you’re a new or expecting dad, there are probably a lot of other questions that feel more pressing, like “Did we buy enough diapers?” or “Is it nap time yet?” However, if you’re a dad with slightly older children, the question “Where is my mommy?” may have already come up at the dinner table, leaving you searching for an appropriate response. For dads who build their families with the help of an egg donor and a surrogate, having a plan in place to help explain your child’s creation story and honor those important relationships is a great place to start.

LGBTQIA+ family building is alive and well. Booming, in fact. According to an extensive LGBTQIA+ family building survey conducted by Family Equality, "63% of LGBTQ millennials are considering expanding their families, either by becoming parents for the first time, or by having more children."

So, you’ve decided that being a parent is in your future - congratulations! This is a major life-decision, and personally, as a parent of two young children, I can say whole-heartedly that being a parent is the most rewarding and hardest job you’ll ever have.

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.

Celebrating Your Family During the Holidays

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.

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