Blog

June is the perfect time to reflect on how we’re doing with making LGBTQ+ parents feel welcomed in social situations. Whether you’re an ally or part of the rainbow community, there’s always more to think about, learn, and un-learn when it comes to treating queer families with respect.

This time of year traditionally means a break from our regular lives to rest and relax. But for many LGBTQ+ parents and parents-to-be, this is also the time we brace ourselves for dealing with ignorance and intrusive questions. How can queer parents navigate the unique social stress of the holidays? We have some ideas we hope will help.

If you're reading this, you’ve likely already begun planning your journey to parenthood, and we’re thrilled for you! An early step in this process is exploring different surrogacy agencies to find the right fit. Whether you’re doing research months in advance or reading this in the agency waiting room, we’ve got you covered.

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.

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:

“Where do babies come from?” There’s a semi-standard answer to this question in our heteronormative society – something along the lines of, “Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much. . .” It’s high time for new standards. There are many kinds of family make-ups, and just as many ways to bring babies into the world. For cisgender gay, bisexual & queer men there’s a process that should explicitly be normalized and part of this conversation. But until all of the options for family building become more standard in our society, Gay Parents To Be is happy to provide answers.