The Path to Parenthood Isn't Always Straight

NEW YORK (PRNewswire) -- The American Fertility Association (AFA) reaffirms its pledge to support and advocate on behalf of gay men and women who want to start their own families through a number of initiatives this fall. The AFA is developing unique educational materials, events, and support groups that address the medical, legal and emotional needs of members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community interested in family building. With a dearth of family building information available to this underserved community, The AFA aims to become their one-stop educational resource.

"We support all types of families, gay and straight," said Pamela Madsen, Executive Director and Founder of The AFA. "Gay and lesbian couples or individuals starting their own families usually have to make complicated -- and often, expensive -- choices about surrogacy, egg donation, and adoption. All hopeful gay parents should know that they can depend on The AFA to make their journey to parenthood less stressful and daunting," she added.

The AFA has released "My Two Dads, My Two Moms: Insights on Gay and Lesbian Family Building," a fact sheet specifically written to address the challenges gay men and women may encounter as they embark on their family building journey. The fact sheet offers advice from fertility specialists, surrogacy and egg donor agencies, lawyers, and gay couples who have made the journey and are now proud parents. This publication is available to AFA "No Barriers" members for free at The AFA's web site, http://www.theAFA.org. A second fact sheet, dedicated to adoption issues for gay men and women, will be available soon.

"Gay men and women want to hold their child in their arms and have a family, just like everyone else. The AFA is helping these parents-to-be make well-informed choices, and that's a noble way to serve the GLBT community," said Stuart Miller, AFA Board Member and CEO of Growing Generations, a surrogacy and egg donation firm dedicated to serving the gay and lesbian community.

Fertility professionals also recognize and endorse The AFA's new outreach efforts. Dr. Guy Ringler, a fertility specialist at California Fertility Partners, will host The AFA's first "GLBT Leadership Circle" event at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday, September 14, 2005. Leaders who work with couples facing fertility issues including adoption, foster care, surrogacy, and sperm donation will attend and have the opportunity to become part of the GLBT Leadership Circle, which will provide support for additional AFA projects and initiatives that will educate and inform the GLBT community on family-building issues.

"The participation of GLBT leaders is essential to making these AFA initiatives relevant and meaningful," Madsen added.

To attend this AFA GLBT leadership and fundraising event in L.A., please contact Byron Potts at 323-904-4731 or byron@growinggenerations.com.