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The MHB Blog
- Gay Parenting and Surrogacy News and Updates

Updates, commentary, and news about gay parenting through surrogacy. Keep in touch and in the know through the MHB Blog.

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Relaxed UK guidelines towards “commercial” surrogacy leads to calls for a new look at what makes surrogacy “ethical”

Natalie Gamble, one of the UK's leading fertility lawyers, has written a piece for leading bioethics publication Bionews about surrogacy outside the UK, including the USA. She explains how COVID-19 has thrown a spotlight on intended parents crossing borders for surrogacy in 2020. Gamble challenges “the policy myth that UK surrogacy is preferable”, and calls for “a shift from categorising surrogacy as altruistic or commercial, domestic or international, and instead ask how to ensure it is ethical.” Gamble then provides examples of robust ethical standards that exist in certain US states where compensation is allowed and regulated.

Intended Parent Spotlight -COVID-19 Delays Jeramie and Andrew's Surrogacy Journey

This Intended Parent Spotlight features Jeramie and Andrew, recipients of the Stage II GPAP program, to give a glimpse into who they are and what Stage II means to them. This California couple had their journey put on hold by the coronavirus. Now their surrogacy agency has given them the green light and they hope to become a family of three in 2021!

If you are getting started on your surrogacy journey and want to apply for GPAP support you can do that here. Or, if you’d like to support recipients in the GPAP program see below for a link to donate for this specific couple or the general grant fund.

High Costs for Men Building Families Examined in Article

A high-priority issue for MHB Advocacy is Fertility Equality, and in particular how insurance coverage of medical treatment is highly discriminatory against men building families through surrogacy. A recent Refinery 29 article calls attention to these hidden costs, including the way that the prevailing definition of "infertility" excludes LGBTQ prospective parents.

Overcoming COVID-19 Surrogacy Travel Challenges

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of prospective surrogacy parents are unable to enter the US and take care of their genetic newborn children.  And subsequently, hundreds more are prevented from  returning to their home countries after the babies are born due to disruption caused by limited access to necessary official documents. Read below about how these parents can best cope with these challenges, and what Men Having Babies and other advocates are attempting to do in order to solve or at least ease these problems.

Intended Parent Spotlight - Lukas and Peter Overcoming Hardships and Heartbreak

The Intended Parent Spotlight is featuring Lukas and Peter, some of the recipients of the Stage II program to give a glimpse into who they are and what Stage II means to them. Peter and Lukas are a sweet couple that has encountered many emotional and financial setbacks and are now starting over on their journey to fatherhood. If you are getting started on your surrogacy journey and want to apply for GPAP support you can do that here.  Or, if you’d like to support recipients in the program see below for a link to donate for this specific recipient or the general grant fund.

Is Stage II Right for Me?

Donated services, grant funding support, and a dedicated team at Men Having Babies helping ensure you can make it through your surrogacy journey – the GPAP Stage II program sounds perfect! But is it a good fit for you? Along with the benefits of Stage II there are restrictions, extra considerations, and extra time involved in being in Stage II.

Intended Parent Spotlight - Join the Journey with Avi and Adir

The Intended Parent Spotlight is inviting you to join Avi and Adir on their journey to fatherhood.  Avi and Adir felt alone as they dreamed of becoming fathers but found a community of support through Stage II GPAP. With acceptance into the program they not only got the financial assistance they needed to start their journey but the love and support from the MHB team and all their providers. They want to welcome you to follow along in their journey as they take it step by step. If you are getting started on your surrogacy journey and want to apply for GPAP support you can do that here.  Or, if you’d like to support recipients in the program see below for a link to donate for this specific recipient or the general grant fund.