Since 2001, Creative Family Connections has helped many gay men and LGBTQ couples or individuals navigate surrogacy. Indeed, our founding principle is “because everyone can build a family.” Fittingly, our very first client back in 2001 was a single gay man. Our team believes strongly that everyone who wants to start a family should have the option, regardless of background, race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, or relationship status. We uphold values of inclusivity as we guide you on your surrogacy journey and strive to make it as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
At CFC, one of our dedicated journey coordinators will assist you in every step of your journey, from the selection of your surrogate to the extraordinary day that you finally hold your baby for the first time.
While the process of surrogacy for same-sex or LGBTQIA couples shares many similarities with other parents’ experiences, there are some additional considerations. Surrogacy for LGBTQ parents consists of the following components:
When looking for LGBTQ surrogacy options, it can feel overwhelming to choose an agency. Here are three things you should look for in a surrogacy company:
Surrogacy agencies routinely consider several factors when matching surrogates with LGBTQ couples, including:
Did you know that early on we were told that pre-birth orders were not available for same-sex couples in Maryland? So, our owner and founder Diane Hinson (who refuses to hear the word “never”) obtained the first pre-birth order in Maryland for a same-sex couple — Pre-birth orders are now the norm in many states for LGBTQ intended parents. Fittingly, Creative Family Connections obtained the first pre-birth parentage order under the new statute.
Creative Family Connections also worked tirelessly to change the law in the District of Columbia, where surrogacy was not just illegal, it was criminal. Diane helped draft the new DC statute and was the lead witness at the hearing before the DC Council, using The US Surrogacy Law Map ™ to show how backwards DC was. Today, DC has one of the most progressive surrogacy statutes in the country.
Creative Family Connections has been helping LGBTQ+ intended parents to become parents through surrogacy since 2001. In fact, our very first intended parent was a single gay dad, and every year we help more and more LGBTQ intended parents build their families through surrogacy.
It is not just what we do, surrogacy is our passion. Our founder, Diane Hinson, is on the Board of Advisors of Men Having Babies and our entire team is active at Men Having Babies conferences. We are ranked as one of the top surrogacy agencies in the world by parents who have completed the surrogacy journey, as reported on the international and well-renowned Men Having Babies and Surrogacy Advisor websites! We also offer Pro Bono surrogacy journeys through MHB’s Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) I and II.
Even as we celebrate the progress in today’s changing world towards LGBTQ reproductive rights and family building rights, we are fully aware that we have not arrived at the finish line. Therefore, as an intended parent who is a member of the LGBTQ community, you have special concerns and needs that need to be addressed. One of those is legal, and that is why our integrated matching and legal team can be so helpful in navigating surrogacy law and matching for LGBTQ intended parents. As a surrogacy agency with a dedicated law team, we help you navigate the legal, medical, and emotional components that come together to create a successful surrogacy journey.
Diane Hinson, Esq., owner and founder of Creative Family Connections, is recognized as a leading legal authority on issues surrounding LGBTQ parenting in the US and for international parents. She is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys, a member of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technologies, and a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s Legal Professional Group. Diane is regularly sought after by the media, the research community, and academia for her opinions on issues relating to reproductive rights as they relate to the LGBT community. She and her team created and maintain the US Surrogacy Law Map ™, the leading and original law map of surrogacy in the US, and an oft-cited surrogacy industry resource.
Creative Family Connections is actively engaged in the LGBT community when it comes to gay reproductive rights and gay parenting. Our values of inclusivity serve as the basis for who we are. We have served as pro bono counsel to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on surrogacy issues and have written many of the sections on surrogacy and assisted reproduction rights on HRC’s website.
Diane has worked with both HRC and Family Equality Council on pro-surrogacy, pro-gay, and gender-neutral legislation that has been introduced in both Maryland and the District of Columbia. She also worked behind the scenes to make sure that the Affordable Care Act did not exclude surrogacy from maternity coverage, given the disastrous effect any exclusion would have on LGBTQ parents. Diane has also written the surrogacy section on Virginia Equality’s website.
Diane and the Creative Family Connections team have been regular guest instructors on surrogacy issues at the “Maybe Baby” class for prospective LGBTQ parents, sponsored by Rainbow Families in DC. In addition, Diane and her team give workshops on surrogacy issues at Rainbow Families’ bi-annual conference. Diane and Jen have also spoken about issues related to surrogacy journeys by gay parents at conferences on parenting sponsored by Men Having Babies and by Families Thru Surrogacy. Creative Family Connections gave a stand-alone workshop on surrogacy at HRC headquarters that was co-hosted by Rainbow Families and CT Fertility.
Creative Family Connections has met with IVF clinics to discuss their policies on working with non-traditional families. As a result, we have helped open doors that historically were closed to the LGBTQ community. We are a proud sponsor of LGBTQ organizations including Rainbow Families DC, the Human Rights Campaign, Family Equality Council, the DC Center for the LGBT Community, and Men Having Babies. Creative Family Connections participates in the Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) sponsored by Men Having Babies. GPAP is a financial assistance program for gay men that seeks to promote the affordability of surrogacy and other parenting-related services. Creative Family Connections is more than just supportive of our non-traditional families. Inclusivity and advocacy are our passions, and they are a crucial part of our identity.
Creative Family Connections is proud to partner with Men Having Babies on its important initiative, the Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP). GPAP provides eligible gay intended parents with grants and access to discounts and pro bono services through its collaboration with surrogacy agencies, IVF clinics, and other organizations.
We absolutely participate as a GPAP discounted services provider. Every year, we also offer complete matching, support and legal support services to an eligible intended parent on a pro bono basis. Learn more about Men Having Babies’ Gay Parenting Assistance Program.
Surrogacy is an excellent option for gay men and LGBTQ individuals or couples who are ready to expand their families. This path to parenthood allows same-sex couples to fulfill their parenting dream while maintaining a genetic link to their children. Surrogacy provides fertility equality to LBGTQ parents. And equality is what we everyone deserves.
To learn more about our surrogacy services, fill out our Request More Information form.
