Men Having Babies (MHB) is a non-profit organization, led by parents and surrogates, that been helping thousands of gay men worldwide become biological parents since 2012. It offers 6 annual conferences worldwide and provides financial assistance to prospective parents form more than a dozen countries.
Following the successful collaboration with the Center on Halsted and Howard Brown Health Center in 2014 and 2015, the organization is returning to Chicago on the weekend of April 8-9, 2017. This time they will be offering an extended two-day format, packed with peer advice and opportunities to meet a wide range of leading providers at the Gay Parenting Expo, breakout sessions and in private consultations.
The April conference will bring together under one-roof community activists, experts, parents and surrogates and egg donors who will share their experiences. Prospective parents at all stages of their journey are encouraged to attend — from those who are just beginning to weigh their parenting options to those who are already in process.
In-depth programs will offer insights from the latest studies about contemporary gestational surrogacy, and specialty panels on budgeting, medical and psychological aspects of surrogacy. Special attention will be provided to the understanding how possible Trump administration policies may affect the parenting options gay men face, both financially and legally.
Proceeds from conference sponsorship benefited the Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP), which annually provides dozens of prospective parents with over a million dollars worth of cash grants, discounts and free services from more than fifty leading service providers.
Almost all of the 20 exhibitors of the Chicago conference are supporters of the Gay Parenting Assistance Program, including platinum sponsors San Diego Fertility Center and Golden Surrogacy, as well as Gold sponsors GenePeeks, WorldWide Surrogacy, Canadian Fertility Consulting, Oregon Reproductive Medicine, CT Fertility, Family Source Consultants, Simple Surrogacy, and CReATe Fertility Center.
"As a gay father who has built my own family through surrogacy, I am proud to be affiliated with Men Having Babies, which supports our mission that everyone deserves a family," said Frank Golden, founder of Chicago based Golden Surrogacy.
"We are very proud, and honored, to participate in the Chicago MHB conference," said Dr. Susanna Park of San Diego Fertility Center. These conferences provide an opportunity for intend parents to receive information about all aspects of their journey to fatherhood, and an opportunity for us to share information about our center. Our center's goal is to provide intended parents with the resources, and financial assistance, to embark on their journey to fatherhood."
The Chicago conference is receiving wide support from local and national LGBT establishments including the Center on Halsted, the Howard Brown Health Center, Windy City Times, Toronto's The 519 LGBT center, Family Equality Council, Gays With Kids, and Proud Parenting.
The event will take place on April 8, 5:30 p.m. — 8 p.m, and April 9, 9:00 a.m. — 5:30 p.m. at the Center on Halsted (3656 North Halsted, Chicago). Go to menhavingbabies.org/chicago for registration and additional information.
Note: while the event is organized by a gay parenting organization, non-gay prospective parents are welcome and will no doubt highly benefit from it as well.
Press inquiries: Contact Ron Poole-Dayan, executive director of Men Having Babies ron@menhavingbabies.org / 646-461-6112. Interviews with parents, prospective parents, surrogates and experts can be arranged by request.
About Men Having Babies
With over 6500 future and current gay parents worldwide, the international nonprofit Men Having Babies (MHB) is dedicated to providing its members with educational and financial support. Each year over a thousand attendees benefit from unbiased guidance and access to a wide range of relevant service providers at its monthly workshops and conferences in NY, Chicago, Brussels, San Francisco and Tel Aviv. The organization's Gay Parenting Assistance Program(GPAP) annually provides dozens of couples with over a million dollars worth of cash grants, discounts and free services from over fifty leading service providers. Collaborating with an advisory board made of surrogates, MHB developed a framework for Ethical Surrogacy that has received endorsements from several LGBT parenting organizations worldwide. In addition, MHB offers extensive online resources, a directory with ratings and reviews of agencies and clinics, a Surrogacy Speakers Bureau, and a vibrant online community forum.
More information: www.menhavingbabies.org
