Opponents to gay marriage in Washington state are launching another fight; this time to tamp down on gay couples’ ability to have children.
An effort to introduce paid surrogacy is being considered in the legislature for 2013. The proposed law would overturn current policy that restricts compensation for surrogates only to the direct costs of pregnancy, delivery, and for legal bills.
Archive for the ‘surrogacy’ Category
Elizabeth Banks Welcomes Second Child Via Surrogacy!
Thursday, November 15th, 2012The Pitch Perfect star and her husband of nine years, Max Handelman, welcomed their second child recently via surrogate, Banks announced on her website Nov. 14.
As 2012 winds down and Thanksgiving approaches, I have much for which to be thankful — personal, professional and Presidential,” Banks, 38, writes. “However, nothing can match the joy and excitement my husband and I felt when we recently welcomed our second baby boy, Magnus Mitchell Handelman.
Check out: Living the “New Normal”
Friday, September 28th, 2012There are lots (and LOTS) of things you need to know as you start out on a family building journey through egg donation and/or surrogacy. And we hope that you’ll consider allowing The Fertility SOURCE Companies (The Donor SOURCE & The Surrogacy SOURCE) to help you on these fronts. We want to make this journey as smooth as possible for you as well as support you in a way that fits your unique family building needs.
However, along with the long list of things you’ll need to know there are also some things you’ll need during this time that are more “felt” than “known.” One of the most significant things in this category is feeling that you’re not alone and that you have community around to help you process the ups and downs of this incredible journey! Here at The Fertility SOURCE Companies we understand that there is no substitute for community which is why we’re trying to explore and engage with the LGBT community to see how they’re building families and what their needs are. Even though this may be outside of what an agency traditionally does, we believe that you feeling supported in this journey is enough reason for us to help you find affirming space where it’s already available and thriving!
(Picture via “Living The New Normal”)
Most recently, we’ve discovered an amazing online community called “Living The New Normal” through our involvement with the Men Having Babies conferences in New York and Barcelona. We wanted to pass it along to all of you who may have grown or are thinking of growing your families through assisted conception.
So go out, get talking, find community, and let us know if we can help with your egg donation and/or surrogacy needs along the way!
—————-
FSC|Third Party Reproduction LGBT Coordinator
Traci’s academic background is in Gender Studies with a focus in Sexuality and her career background is in counseling and diversity education. She believes in the strength of families of choice and is passionate about offering affirming options for egg donation and/or surrogacy to the LGBT community looking to grow their families. You can friend Traci on FB to stay up to date with issues pertaining to assisted conception for LGBT individuals.
“Less Kitsch and More Class”
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012
The portrayal of gay families and surrogates is a touchy issue. While gay families definitely aren’t new, the discussion and portrayal of them in mainstream media is just starting to hit its stride. As with any budding forum, the fewer the voices the louder each one of them rings and the more clout they hold. So it’s understandable that those that are living embodiments of the subject matter would have some strong opinions about how gracefully the discussion is starting to take shape.
I came across this article on OUT.com entitled: “What’s Wrong with the New Normal.” While it had a couple of biting lines, including a call for “less kitsch and more class,” I thought it was well thought out, held space for other’s opinions, referenced the author’s ownership over a singular opinion (that seemed to come from the heart), and was generally… well… classy. The tone of the article also seemed to offer structure for those commenting to respond with their opinions in a similar way. The comments were overwhelmingly respectful and held a, “I get that/don’t get that, but here’s what I think” vibe. I thought this article and the comments to it were great examples of how we can hold thoughtful safe space for each other, even when the other holds a point of fervent disagreement.
So what are YOUR thoughts on how accurately the “New Normal” portrays the “new normal”?
—————————————-
Traci Medeiros-Bagan
FSC|Third Party Reproduction LGBT Coordinator
As an ardent musical fan who was sorely disappointed with the pilot episode of Glee but over time fell in love with how the show created serious discussion space that was simultaneously colorful, campy, and courageous, Traci is holding out that the kitsch of The New Normal may pull you in but that the heartfelt class is on its way.
