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In this special episode, we flew to New York City to experience the annual Men Having Babies Conference. MHB provides unbiased surrogacy parenting advice and support for gay men worldwide. The Conference featured parenting options in the USA and Canada, in-depth panels — including on insurance, budgeting, and teen surrogacy children, and an Expo of surrogacy parenting info. In this episode we shed a light on the history and work of Men Having Babies, on the conference and on the Canadian surrogacy option.

Did you know? Men’s Having Babies’ Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) helps make the dream of fatherhood a wider reality with financial assistance for prospecting parents’ surrogacy journey. Click here to find more info

With over 8,500 future and current gay parents worldwide, the international nonprofit Men Having Babies (MHB) is dedicated to providing its members with educational and financial support community forum. The MHB conferences is organized with the help of prominent LGBT parenting organizations, provide unparalleled opportunities to get unbiased information, access a wide range of relevant service providers, and connect with others going through the surrogacy process. Special interest panels for parents, prospects and professionals include topics such as parenting for HIV+ men, speaking to your children about surrogacy and gay parenting, testimonials from teenagers born via surrogacy, and ethical considerations in surrogacy.

This is definitely the recommended first step to take if you are a gay couple considering having biological children. It’s definitely your boot-camp to kickstarting your parenting journey. View Men Having Babies’ Mission Statement sheet

Episode Interviews

Anthony Brown, Founding Chairman of MHB
Anthony currently is a senior associate at the law firm of Chianese and Reilly Law, P.C., heading its family and estates law division. He has been with MHB since its early days, was appointed as a board member and Secretary of the board of the organization upon its incorporation in July 2012. Anthony has served as Board Chairman since 2013.

In 2010, CNN aired a documentary that followed Anthony and his husband Gary’s quest for a family of their own. The documentary is titled ‘Gary and Tony Have a Baby.’

Ron Poole-Dayan, Executive Director of MHB

Ron has over 20 years of experience in marketing and business strategy development both in the USA and internationally. Ron and his husband Gary are among the first same-sex couples in the nation to father children through gestational surrogacy. Their twins, born in 2001, were conceived with the use of eggs donated by Greg’s sister, and carried by gestational carrier. Ron has been the MHB program coordinator since 2005 and was appointed as the Executive Director of Men Having Babies upon its incorporation in July 2012.

Frank Nelson, Board Member

Frank is a high school teacher working with at-risk youth in Toronto, Ontario. Frank and his husband BJ have a son, Milo, who was born in June 2014 via gestational surrogacy. By some twist of fate, their birth photo went viral, and their surrogacy story was shared around the world. BJ gave an interview for Daddy2 in early 2018 in which he described the aftermath of their famous photo, and raising Milo in an interfaith home. Frank and BJ have written a children’s book called Milo’s Adventures: A Story About Love, about their surrogacy journey.

Frank believes it’s important to teach others about surrogacy and  to show the world that family is about love.

Nir Keren

Originally from Israel now lives in Toronto with his partner, Bob, Nir Keren brings the awareness of the Canadian surrogacy option to intended parents seeking alternative options. Alongside Dr. Librach and the CReATe Fertility Centre, he has now established ‘Babies Come True’, a concierge service in Canada that will help and support international intended parents throughout their surrogacy journey.

 

Episode Credits:

Co-Hosts: Yan Dekel, Alex Maghen
Music: Hercules & Love Affair, “Leonora” buy here
Articles referred to in this episode:
Frankie and BJ: Raising A Child In An Interfaith Home (Daddy Squared, January 2018)
You have to know how these gay dads are responding to anti-gay hate campaigns (Gay Star News, June 2016)
BJ and Frankie’s page on Gays With Kids (GaysWithKids.com)
Nir Keren speaks about surrogacy in Canada (YouTube, 2018)

For any questions, comments or advise, please do not hesitate to contact us at hello@daddysqr.com or on Twitter @yanirdekel


Daddy Square: The Podcast is a part of GaysWithKids.com