Blog

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.

In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, it's essential to include ALL perspectives in the conversation - not just those of cis women. Let's explore why a lot of the language being circulated in the media is harmful, and how we can be more inclusive of trans and non-binary people in a post-Roe world.

In June, towns across the world celebrate the history of “Pride Month,” and we highlight LGBTQ icons from across history. The infamous Stonewall Riots that began June of 1969 have long been recognized as a catalyst for the gay rights movement as we know it today. But, who said education and celebration must stop in June?

New legislation in New York state will require insurance providers to cover same-sex family building without discrimination.  In early 2021, New York state Governor Cuomo's office announced a directive requiring insurance providers to provide immediate coverage for fertility treatment, regardless of a patient's sexual orientation or gender identity. In the words of Cuomo, "Every New Yorker regardless of sexual orientation or gender identify should have the same opportunity to conceive a family, and we must do everything we can to ensure cost is not a barrier...In New York State, we believe love is what makes a family and that the law must work for everyone. This action will go a long way toward achieving that goal." Here at Gay Parents to Be and RMA of Connecticut, we are proud to work with prospective parents from all over the world, but with offices in Connecticut and New York, we hope that this historic declaration will make a difference for patients right in our backyard. In this blog, we'll unpack how this change might impact future parents, what will (and won't) be covered, and how we're hoping to learn more.

Celebrating Your Family During the Holidays  

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.  

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.

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.

Expanded State Infertility Mandates Show Promise for Same-Sex Couples, Here’s What You Need to Know to Get Coverage

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.