Men Having Babies Florida: April 30, 2022
“Some see any participation in Florida events (indeed, even a visit) to be an act of support for the state’s political leadership. MHB does not agree with such calls for an indiscriminate boycott. Instead, we feel prospective fathers and surrogates from Florida deserve more support than ever”
WILTON MANORS, Fla. (PRWEB)
April 27, 2022
Each year, the nonprofit organization Men Having Babies (MHB) travels to a number of cities across the U.S. and internationally to share a wealth of knowledge with gay men aspiring to become parents. These events include peer guidance, expert advice, information about financing and grants, inspirational testimonies from surrogates and fathers, and an opportunity to meet dozens of reputable and ethical surrogacy providers.
“The infuriating ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill has obviously presented a challenge as we prepare for this event, as does the continued COVID-19 situation,” said Ron Poole-Dayan, Executive Director of Men Having Babies. “We had some calls to boycott Florida altogether, and one surrogacy agency decided not to attend. Some see any participation in Florida events (indeed, even a visit) to be an act of support for the state’s political leadership. MHB does not agree with such calls for an indiscriminate boycott. Instead, we feel prospective fathers and surrogates from Florida deserve more support than ever, and together we will make the world a better place, one gay family at a time.”
“At Fertility Specialists of Texas, we truly believe that anyone who wants to have a family should have every opportunity to make that dream a reality,” said Dr. Daniel Skora of Fertility Specialists of Texas, a Platinum Sponsor at the conference. “Now more than ever, we recognize the importance of connecting with intended parents at the upcoming Men Having Babies conference to provide education, support and hope as they consider starting on the life-changing path to parenthood.”
As for COVID-19, MHB continues to take public health measures to make their events as safe as possible with the evolving nature of the pandemic. “Now that vaccinations alone do not guarantee that no transmissions will occur, we will be providing COVID-19 self-tests on-site so that all attendees can verify their status before checking in for the event. We also ask everyone to wear masks unless actively eating or drinking,” said Jenny Congiardo, MHB’s Director of Operations.
While the pandemic had everything shut down for months, outside of one conference in Taiwan, MHB had to pause in-person conferences until just a few months ago. “We used specialized virtual conference technology to offer guidance to the best of our abilities,” said Ron Poole-Dayan. “However, the complex process and highly personal nature of surrogacy parenting requires an immersive and personal experience, and a comprehensive educational agenda that is beyond the attention span of virtual events.” With early implementation of a comprehensive COVID safety protocol, MHB was able to safely host hundreds of prospective parents in NY, Chicago and Brussels. Indeed, feedback from both attendees and exhibitors indicated that effective interactions were possible while no adverse health incidents were reported.
“With the landscape of surrogacy continuing to evolve in the post-pandemic world, guidance to navigate your family journey is more important than ever,” said Kristen Hanson, of Simple Surrogacy, a Platinum Sponsor at the event. “We are honored to participate in guiding families through the new normal of family building and the changing legal landscape of surrogacy with our partners and colleagues at the Men Having Babies’ Conference in Florida.”
The full-day event at the Pride Center at Equality Park of South Florida will kick off with workshops and panels that lay out the major legal, medical and financial considerations to take into account while planning a surrogacy journey.
“We’re so excited that MHB is returning to Florida and will host their conference at The Pride Center,” says CEO Robert Boo. “We have a message for those who want to deny our existence: you cannot erase us. An estimated 4.6% of Floridians identify as LGBTQ+ and 24% of LGBTQ+ people in Florida are raising children. More than ever, our children and our families need love, strength and support. I’m grateful that MHB will be bringing their vital services of education and support to prospective parents and families in South Florida. Together, we can pursue our mission to ‘provide a welcoming, safe space—an inclusive home—that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ+ communities and our friends and neighbors in South Florida.’”
Given MHB’s primary advocacy goal to broaden access to affordable parenting options for gay men, several sessions will be dedicated to ways in which prospective parents can make the process affordable. Topics will include how to budget smartly, how to take advantage of financial assistance and member discounts by MHB, and what opportunities are available to receive coverage of surrogacy related medical costs as part of employee benefits or state-mandated insurance.
A popular event is the personal stories panel, where attendees hear from local gay dads and the surrogates who helped them. Specific advice is also presented for particular parenting situations, such as single dads by choice, a growing phenomenon. Other sessions will cover the insurance, legal, medical and psychological aspects of surrogacy.
Proceeds from the conference’s sponsorship fees benefit MHB’s Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP), which provides dozens of prospective parents with over a million dollars’ worth of cash grants, discounts and free services on an annual basis, from over 100 leading service providers. The majority of the 21 exhibitors at the MHB South conference are supporters of GPAP, as well as the organization’s Membership Benefits Program, including Platinum sponsors: Simple Surrogacy and Fertility Specialists of Texas, and Gold sponsors: IVF Florida, Same Love Surrogacy, San Diego Fertility Center, Family Source Consultants, Atlantic Shared Beginnings, Family Formers and Surro Connections.
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