While many companies are striving to improve their maternity leave policies for their female employees, there is also a vast need for expanding paternity leave policies. This can be extremely detrimental for recent fathers, and especially for same-sex male couples, creating additional barriers for LGBTQ+ individuals trying to build their families.
In this episode, we hear from Jason Rudman, who shares his experience of navigating family expansion options, including egg donation, surrogacy, as well as adoption. Jason and his husband Alvin ended up utilizing a gestational surrogate to start their family, and then, two years later, utilized another one to grow their family. Along the way, Jason used his voice to change his employer’s paternity leave policy and ended up helping more than just his immediate family.
Guest: Jason Rudman
Host: Salaia DaCruz, Senior Account Manager at Progyny
If you missed it, we released a few episodes on family building for same-sex couples:
Episode 5: Katie & Hilary: Changing the Plan
Episode 6: Benjie & Jimmy: Becoming Daddy and Papa
Episode 7: Family Building & Equality for Same Sex Couples
Episode 8: Lindsey & Chrissy: Better Benefits, Clearer Decisions
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for LGBTQ+ family building options.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.
Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.