A couple of male penguins in the Berlin Zoo, Ping and Skip, have come together to have a child. In the process of adopting an egg, Ping and Skip have evolved. Where they were more outgoing and easier to approach, they have taken the job of trying to hatch an egg, as any parent would, quite seriously. This is a wonderful story, not just because it makes us feel good but because it reinforces the universal desire to have children regardless of sex, gender identity, or even species.

In our last LGBTQ History Month blog, we reviewed the history of LGBTQ family building, and what’s led us to where we are now. Here’s more on where we’re at in 2019:

Many transgender children struggle with their identity and development, while parents struggle with readily giving acceptance and support. Family support and validation of their gender identity is the most critical thing a transgender child needs to be confident and grow. Without this support, transgender children can suffer from depression and mental health problems that put their health and well-being at risk.

Our list of the best inclusive children’s books to read with, and to, your little ones. These books have LGBTQ characters, and can help you explore together themes like pride, gender nonconformity, and same-sex marriage – alongside reassuring constants like love, family, and fairy tales.

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.

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?

Hey! Guess what? Two women can raise happy, healthy kids all on their own. It turns out, the gender identity and expression of your parents and how you were conceived doesn’t affect your mental health. It just doesn’t. We know this, you know this, and a recently published study spanning three decades of research confirms this.

Blazing a trail might result in glory, but the road is often rough. When Dr. Mark Leondires founded RMA of Connecticut in 2002, his team consisted of seven people. There was no template for building a clinic for a gay person trying to have children. So he decided to construct one himself. To this day, Gay Parents To Be, offered through RMA of Connecticut, has helped more than a thousand members of the LGBTQ+ community start families.

For most LGBTQ single people and couples, the experience of raising a family is no different from anyone else. Yet, the journey to planning and building your future family can take many unique forms. Most of the time, this involves assistance from a multidisciplinary team. Raising awareness, sharing accurate information, and increasing representation of LGBTQ family-building pathways is critical to educating potential patients and loved ones of the LGBTQ community, therefore I’ve compiled this list of the common myths to LGBTQ parenting: