Pride And The Price Of Parenthood

Every person who wants to become a parent should be able to do so (okay maybe not literally everyone, but you get the idea). But when the cost of having kids is at an all time high, the path to parenthood is not always an easy one. And for LGBTQIA+ people it can be especially difficult.

Strides in modern science and reproductive technology has allowed us to grow our families in many different ways. From in vitro fertilization to surrogacy, there’s lots of ways to bring a child into the world that go way beyond the old ‘bird and the bees.’ There’s also other options like adoption and foster care, making the path to parenthood more colorful than ever.

However, these nontraditional paths to parenthood come at a cost, often involving high price tags with lengthy legal and/or medical processes. And for LGBTQIA+ people looking to build families, they often face additional discriminatory factors. This includes, but not limited to, extra financial expenses, legal procedures, and discriminatory laws. Here are a few examples that may (or may not) surprise you:

• Health insurance plans rarely cover the costs for fertility treatments like IVF for LGBTQIA+ people, all thanks to the CDC’s outdated definition of 'infertility'.
• LGBTQIA+ parents may have to take additional legal steps to secure parental rights. If an LGBTQIA+ parent is not the child's biological parent, they may not be considered a legal parent in some states—even if their name is on the birth certificate.
• Same-sex surrogacy laws vary significantly by state, and while some states are very supportive of surrogacy arrangements, others have very restrictive or unclear laws.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

As we all know, kids are expensive. Costs like child care, housing, and food all add up. It’s estimated that the average cost of raising a child up to the age of eighteen is over $310,000. That total doesn’t account for other expenses like transportation, healthcare, extra curricular activities, family vacations and college tuition. The reality of raising a family is a big expense for all parents, and for LGBTQIA+ families, these costs can be an even greater challenge.

Needless to say, raising a family is difficult for anyone, regardless of who you are. This Pride Month, as we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ movement for equality and justice, it’s crucial to recognize that child care and the ability to raise a family with support and love are fundamental rights that must be addressed and fought for. Every community deserves representation and visibility to create an environment where all children can thrive.

Recognizing the realities and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ parents and caregivers is key to help us move toward a stronger and more inclusive future for all families.

For further information and resources on LGBTQIA+ Family planning:

• LGBTQIA+ Family & Parenting Services
• LGBTQ+ Family Building Directory
• Building LGBTQ+ Families: the Price of Parenthood by Family Equality

ICYMI

We spoke with Reshma Saujani of Moms First , a true trailblazer in the care space. Read about the latest Mirza Movers interview or watch now!

A huge thank you to Reshma for sharing her story with us. If you know someone who you think would be a great guest to feature on Mirza Movers, let us know.

Mirza Movers is a series where we spotlight leaders, trailblazers and innovators in the caregiving industry. We hope to shed light on the importance of caregiving and the kind of work that is being done to build a better world of care.

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