Halloween-ish | The October Voice

from Gay Parents To Be

Hi there,

If this were any other year, I would be getting ready for Halloween right about now. Our whole practice would, in fact! Typically, we host a 🎃“Baby Boo” party 🎃and invite staff to dress up as we welcome former patients and their little ones. It’s great fun, and some of us get way more into it than others (*cough* Dr. Leondires as Chewbacca 👇). It’s also a nice reminder of why we love what we do, and a great time to connect with our patients.

However, this year, between the news, rising COVID numbers, and the election, it definitely feels more challenging to get into the spooky spirit 👻. If you’re active on social media, I’m sure that you’ve noticed an uptick in political posts lately. Not just reposted memes, but active posts - ranging from tips on how to fill out a ballot, selfies at a polling place, or Paul Rudd handing out cookies. 

I’m here for all of it!

Selfies and cookies aside, I’m also here for the more sobering reminders of why voting is important. For anyone who has children, or wants to have them someday, the desire to protect them is fierce. In our country with all its freedoms, LGBTQ+ parents still have to jump through more hoops than most to build families, and then further protect them legally (I’m talking about the second-parent adoptions that are still needed in most US states).

Check out this post, from If These Ovaries Could Talk, or this one, from one of our real life mom-heroes. In Becky’s own words, “I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me that [my daughter] is mine, but I’m sad other people do.” 😭

I’m sad too, because real parents building and protecting their families is what motivates me to work hard every day. To help educate and facilitate a vibrant, growing LGBTQ community, and to help build our future.

As we reach the final pre-election stretch, I’m sure that many of you are experiencing some anxiety, the way that I am. You’re not alone - and no matter who you are, or where you’re registered, please vote. Our families are counting on you. ❤️

This Month, On the Blog

🌈For Parents & Parents-To-Be

If you're an LGBTQ single, couple, or even a parent, it can sometimes feel like there are "coming out" moments around every corner. This National Coming Out day, we asked one of our favorite LGTBQ+ dads to weigh in on how he handles coming out as a dad, and being a proud gay parent. Our favorite quote from the article?

“Is your wife joining us?”

“Actually no, but my husband is.”

🌈For People Born with Ovaries

In last month's Voice we teased a special feature article on how PCOS impacts LGBTQ+ individuals. PCOS can affect anyone born with ovaries, and can make those in the queer community feel excluded from mainstream PCOS support groups. Check out this interview with a PCOS parent-child duo to hear their personal story.

🌈For LGBTQ History Month

Did you know that October is LGBTQ History Month? And did you also know that the legalization of same-sex marriage didn't remove all legal hurdles for LGBTQ+ parents? In honor of LGBTQ History Month, we asked a legal expert to weigh in on the history of LGBTQ+ family rights, and what you can do to protect your future family, now.

No matter what happens on Election Day, legal protection is always important for LGBTQ+ families. Read more here.

ICYMI 👀

That means, "in case you missed it," and in case you don't follow us on social media (or have taken a mental break from FB & Instagram), I thought it might be nice to end with a little round up of things that made us smile this month. It's been "one of those days" for what feels like most of 2020, and we could all use some positive vibes. 

• These dads and their "egg-celent" Retrieval Day t-shirts 🐣
  • Future dads Adam and Dan are in the midst of a surrogacy journey using our practice, and we couldn't be more egg-cited for them.
• These bilingual dads, and their amazing family 🌈
  • For dads Mitsuo and Rickard, every day is an adventure. They built their family with the help of Gay Parents To Be and RMA of CT, and now they live in Sweden raising their son. Read more about their story on Gays With Kids.
• Dr. Mark Leondires on Spirit Day 💜
  • Spirit Day is when our community comes together to speak out against bullying. Our founder speaks on his personal experience, being bullied, and why it's important to support LGBTQ youth every day.
• The Broadway Husbands 🎶
  • If you're a fan of showtunes, dance, or Disney, this one is for you. Bret & Stephen are one of our favorite follows (and they also happen to be in the middle of a surrogacy journey). Find out how they're dressing up for Halloween here. 

So Hard to Say Goodbye  (To Yesterday) 👋

As always, if you think of something more that you want to see here, or anywhere that you find Gay Parents To Be, you can respond to this email or drop me a line directly at emma@gayparentstobe.com 💌

🌈Emma - Editor-In-Chief,

Gay Parents To Be

She/her/hers