Empowering LGBTQ+ Parents-to-Be: Resources for Family Building
Dr. Mark P. Leondires, Founder and Medical Director, Illume Fertility
The path to parenthood for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples is a journey filled with hope, excitement, and often, unique challenges. Thankfully, a vibrant network of advocates, organizations, and an ever-increasing number of resources are available to support LGBTQ+ parents-to-be on their quest to build a family.
Whether you’re at the beginning of the family-building process or simply looking for additional tools to help you navigate your current experience, this guide is designed to help you feel more empowered, knowledgeable, and supported – every step of the way.
LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Support Organizations
Looking for information, community, or advocacy? The following organizations provide valuable tools for your journey to LGBTQ+ parenthood, navigating family life, and beyond.
- Family Equality: A national organization committed to advancing legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families. They offer resources, education, and advocacy to support LGBTQ+ parents and their children, including programs like their annual Family Week gathering, which provides a space for like-minded families to connect and celebrate.
- Gays With Kids: This organization empowers gay, bisexual, and trans men on their journey to fatherhood through various pathways, including surrogacy, adoption, and fostering. GWK provides educational content, free events, and community-building opportunities for prospective and current dads.
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC): The largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States, HRC works to achieve equality for all LGBTQ+ people. Providing a wide variety of helpful tools, including a searchable database of LGBTQ-friendly healthcare providers, advocacy, and educational programs.
- Gay Parents To Be: A comprehensive resource hub for all things LGBTQ+ fertility and family building, offering a wealth of expert-written articles that cover everything from fertility testing to legal considerations, medical procedures, emotional challenges, and practical tips for those pursuing options like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gestational surrogacy.
- GLAAD: A prominent American non-governmental media monitoring organization dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of LGBTQ+ people in the media and entertainment industries.
- COLAGE: A national organization that connects and empowers those with LGBTQ+ parents. They provide a safe and supportive space for children and young adults to share their experiences, build community, and develop leadership skills.
- PFLAG: A national organization that unites LGBTQ+ people, their families, and allies. They offer support groups, educational workshops, and advocacy initiatives to create a more accepting and inclusive society for everyone.
Financial Assistance for LGBTQ+ Family Building
The cost of LGBTQ+ family building can be significant – don’t let the financial aspect of this journey stop you from achieving your goals! With careful planning and research, building your family can still be achievable. Here are a few great places to start:
- Family Equality’s Grant Guide: An extensive collection of grant opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to help offset the costs of fertility treatment, surrogacy, or adoption.
- Men Having Babies’ GPAP Program: The Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) is part of their mission to make building a family more affordable for gay-prospective parents in need of financial assistance for their surrogacy journey.
- The Hope for Fertility Foundation: Offers financial assistance for fertility treatments.
- Illume Fertility’s Surrogacy Grant Guide: Financial grants, a vetted list of organizations and surrogacy agencies, LGBTQ+ support groups, and other resources.
- Baby Quest Foundation: Provides grants for fertility treatments such as IVF.
- The Cade Foundation: Offer financial assistance to couples and individuals facing infertility. They even offer a designated LGBTQ Family Building Grant.
Note: Many fertility clinics and adoption agencies also offer sliding-scale fees, discounted services, or financial aid programs to support LGBTQ+ families. Some employers offer adoption or fertility benefits, so check with your company’s HR department.
Important Considerations:
- Each grant or program has specific criteria that must be met to qualify for assistance. It’s essential to research each one thoroughly and understand the requirements before applying.
- The application process often involves providing personal and financial information, essays, and letters of recommendation. Be prepared to invest time and effort into completing them, and ask the organization for help if you get stuck.
- Pay close attention to application deadlines, as many grants have specific submission periods.
Remember, this is not an exhaustive list. You can also contact local LGBTQ+ community centers and organizations, as they may know additional resources specific to your area.
Educational Resources and Support Groups
Knowledge and community are invaluable:
- Paths to Parenthood from Family Equality: Comprehensive information on various LGBTQ+ family-building options, including pathways for trans parents-to-be.
- Gays With Kids workshops cover topics like surrogacy, IVF, adoption, and fostering.
- RESOLVE: Provides information, legislative advocacy, and free online support groups for anyone working to build a family.
- Local LGBTQ+ community centers often host support groups, workshops, and events for LGBTQ+ parents and parents-to-be. Find one in your area with this tool from CenterLink.
Legal and Medical Considerations
When considering healthcare and legal support, having an ally who understands the specific challenges you may be facing is key. Here are some helpful tools that can assist you in finding LGBTQ-affirming doctors and LGBTQ+ family law attorneys:
For LGBTQ-Affirming Doctors:
- GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality: Their online directory allows you to search for healthcare providers by location and specialty, filtering for those who are LGBTQ-competent or specialize in LGBTQ health.
- The HRC Healthcare Equality Index evaluates healthcare facilities’ LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. You can also use their online database to identify hospitals or clinics likely to have LGBTQ-affirming doctors.
- Family Equality: Offers a directory of LGBTQ+ family-building professionals.
- Local LGBTQ+ centers often maintain lists of LGBTQ-friendly healthcare providers in the area. Check with your center to see what resources are available.
For LGBTQ Family Law Attorneys:
- National LGBT Bar Association: Their Family Law Institute directory allows you to search for attorneys specializing in LGBTQ+ family law matters by location.
- Lambda Legal: The oldest and largest national legal organization in the United States dedicated to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community. They are committed to protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ families.
- State Bar Associations: Most state bar associations have online directories where you can search for attorneys by practice area and location. You may be able to filter for those who identify as LGBTQ+ or who have experience working with LGBTQ+ clients.
Remember, when using any online directory or database, it’s always, a good idea to verify the credentials and experience of any professional you’re considering. It is important to contact them directly to discuss your needs and ensure they’re a good fit.
Finding Support for LGBTQ+ Family Building
The journey to parenthood for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples is a beautiful experience that can also present some complex challenges. The good news? You don’t have to go it alone. A strong network of organizations, financial assistance opportunities, educational tools, and supportive communities exist to help you navigate this process.
With patience, persistence, and the right resources, you can create, the family of your dreams.
Dr. Mark P. Leondires is the founder and medical director of Illume Fertility and Gay Parents To Be. He is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Leondires currently serves as a member of RESOLVE’s Physician Council and a member of ASRM’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force. He is also the Past President of ASRM’s LGBTQ Special Interest Group.
