Empowering parenthood: envisioning a truly inclusive future
"I'm all in when it comes down helping people realize their dreams about becoming parents," says Marea Goodman. She's not just a midwife; she's an author and founder who built Pregnant Together, an inclusive community with a heart. Goodman passionately believes that everyone, no matter who they are, deserves a shot at parenting.
With two little ones at home, Goodman knows firsthand what it means. "For many queer folks or those going it alone, taking that first step can feel daunting," she explains. "There's just not a clear roadmap if you don't fit neatly inside those traditional boxes."
Championing parenthood, no matter what
Even with these hurdles, Goodman insists that parenting should be an option open wide. She highlights how vital community support and visible role models are in creating a path toward inclusivity in parenthood. Public figures like Tan France and Wanda Sykes stand as living proof that diverse family setups can flourish.
Back in 2009, Wanda Sykes and her partner Alex welcomed their twins, Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude, shortly after they tied a knot. Then earlier this year, Tan France from Queer Eye shared some joy by announcing his second child with husband Rob, both brought via surrogacy since their marriage in 2007.
Goodman sees a rise in same-sex parenting and adoption within LGBTQ+ circles, pinning it on people feeling freer than ever before—to shape their lives on their own terms.
Tackling fertility care's barriers
Yet, there are still big hurdles, especially in fertility care. Goodman points out, "Fertility clinics started with heterosexual couples in mind, grappling with infertility." Even now, they sometimes cling onto non-inclusive language, like using "husband" on forms, which can turn away LGBTQ+ hopefuls.
Aspiring parents often walk a path strewn with unexpected obstacles, including time, costs, and scant support. Goodman pushes hard (and rightly so) towards more inclusive systems, standard protocols that acknowledge LGBTQ+ care, and better recognition, especially concerning non-gestational, transgender, and non-binary parents.
Creating supportive spaces
Pregnant Together's members often voice being "swamped and alone." This online sanctuary offers gentle, identity-affirming support coupled with expert-led educational resources. "There's a void," Goodman admits, "when it comes down providing a dedicated space meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant truly meant
The resilience within LGBTQ+ communities
Goodman doesn't shy away from critiquing political figures like former President Donald Trump, who once tried limiting gender recognition strictly within "male" and "female" boxes, or UK policymakers who've pushed back against inclusive language in healthcare.
Still, Goodman holds onto optimism. "We've always found ways," she affirms. "Pregnant Together epitomizes this enduring strength." Goodman has faith that these communities will continue thriving regardless, with or without mainstream backing.
Looking ahead: a future where everyone can become a parent
Exciting medical breakthroughs like a groundbreaking womb transplant in Britain give Goodman hope. She dreams about a day when transgender women might experience childbirth. "For trans women, that could be unbelievably affirming," she muses.
While bumps on this journey are expected, Goodman delivers a heartfelt message: if you want kids, it's possible. And you won't be walking that path solo.
The floor now opens up; let's hear your stories or thoughts below! Let's foster spaces where LGBTQ+ families can not only exist but thrive, embraced by community and understanding. Dive right in and remember—together, we can create a nurturing environment where every kind family flourishes.
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