Chad is currently on a journey to become a single dad through surrogacy - his advocacy at his workplace ended up with his employer supporting all LGBTQ+ employees with financial assistance of $25k to help in parenting journey. "I work in a small financial services and asset management firm, and the company had no such benefits for LGBTQ parents when I started my journey," Chad tells us. "I had heard from friends about benefits that their companies offered, which inspired me to research relevant state laws and existing company benefits to determine that my company neither provided nor was mandated to provide such benefits." Chad's next move was what we at MHB recommend when discussing workplace surrogacy benefits: take it to the LGBTQ+ employee group (if you have one). "I worked through my company's Q+ Business Resource Group (BrG), which I lead, and other BRGs to ensure I had internal allies willing to stand with my advocacy for such benefits." "I then created a short advocacy slide deck presentation where I highlighted the coverage gaps in nontraditional reproductive coverage for both LGBTQ and single non-LGBTQ intended parents. In the deck, I also created a robust peer benchmarking matrix demonstrating that my company was not competitive with similarly oriented companies on this important benefit. When this was done, I presented it along with the co-lead of my Q+ BRG to the head of HR for the benefit. She was very receptive." "A few months later, the company announced a $25k lifetime benefit for all intended parents (inclusive of adoption, IVF, surrogacy, etc.) administered through Carrot (which my company was already working with)." Chad, who is currently in the stage of finding an egg donor, met someone shortly after he started the journey. "I have been dating someone for about one year, but I am pursuing this journey on my own right now," he shares. "My partner is supportive, and if we stay together, he does want to co-parent and eventually have another child using his own DNA at some point in the future." #menhavingbabies #gaydads #surrogacy #employersurrogacybenefits (fb)

If you have questions about genetic testing in your embryo creation process, this webinar is for you! From carrier testing and genetic counseling to all the types of preimplantation genetic screening and testing (PGS/PGT), it can be complicated to understand your options. NOTE: This webinar is for MHB members only. To become a member (and automatically join our Members Benefit Program): menhavingbabies.org/membership/join/ If you are a member - you can click here to register for this webinar: https://menhavingbabies.org/surrogacy-seminars/upcoming/user-view/post.php?permalink=the-abcs-of-genetic-diagnostics-in-surrogacy #menhavingbabies #surrogacy #ivf #embryo (fb)