Lacey, a former Mormon and lesbian mom, shares her journey of coming out and building her family with her wife, Gabby. They unexpectedly conceived their first child through at-home insemination and later decided to have more children. After struggling with infertility, they turned to fertility treatments and ended up having triplets. Amidst the joy of their growing family, their oldest child, Jonah, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Lacey recounts the challenges they have faced and the strength and newfound faith they have found as a family navigating this journey together. Join us for this truly moving episode, which not only celebrates the uniqueness of LGBTQIA families but also highlights the universal aspects of parenting under extraordinary circumstances. Tune in to hear Lacey's full story, and don't forget to subscribe for more inspiring and thought-provoking content that celebrates families in all their diverse beauty. 🏳️‍🌈Thanks to ⁠Pregnant Together⁠,  My Donor Story, ⁠⁠⁠Our Shelves⁠⁠⁠ (code QUEERFAM) and our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ supporters. 🏳️‍🌈Interested in advertising? Check out our packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ 🏳️‍🌈Key Takeaways:🏳️‍🌈  * Lacey's upbringing in a conservative Mormon family and her subsequent journey to embracing her identity as a lesbian woman. * The surprising and unanticipated conception of triplets, adding to the excitement and complexities of parenting. * An intimate look into the hardships and emotional turmoil following her oldest child's cancer diagnosis. * Discussion on faith and coping mechanisms in the face of adversity, challenging the idea of divine intervention. * The importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for children in queer families. 🏳️‍🌈Quotes:🏳️‍🌈 * "I tried really hard to fit the mold." Lacey * “We had four kids in the hospital at one time." Lacey * 🏳️‍🌈About The Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈 * Lacey is a former Mormon and a lesbian mom who, alongside her wife Gabby, has faced significant life challenges. With a deep love for her family, Lacey navigates the complexities of raising four children, one of whom is courageously battling cancer. Her family's journey is a testament to their strength and resilience, with values that emphasize love, acceptance, and the beauty of being true to oneself, regardless of the circumstances. 🏳️‍🌈Resources mentioned in the episode:  * Queer midwife Mara Goodman's virtual community: Pregnant Together * https://www.pregnanttogether.com/ 🏳️‍🌈We want to hear from you! 🏳️‍🌈 - Call us and leave a voicemail or text: 646-470-1840 - Email: thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast - Website: https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ovariestalk/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequeerfamilypodcast - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNhon0J_IfFovDUAzS9v2WQ 🏳️‍🌈Order the #ITOCT book Amazon, IndieBound, Audible🏳️‍🌈 https://amzn.to/3F9qRUc 🏳️‍🌈Buy our merch here🏳️‍🌈 https://bit.ly/TQFPmerchandise 🏳️‍🌈Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: Tiffany Topol\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato🏳️‍🌈 🎙️ Episode Chapters: 0:00:00 Introduction and sponsorship announcement 0:02:12 The normalization of queer families 0:03:32 Discussion of heavy topics: miscarriage and child's cancer diagnosis 0:07:21 Lacey's Mormon upbringing and coming out 0:13:01 The Mormon church's stance on homosexuality 0:15:57 Meeting Gabby and coming out to her family 0:17:56 Moving in together and getting married 0:21:10 Surprising success of accidental queer pregnancy 0:29:04 Lacey's triplets are born prematurely at 27 weeks 0:31:11 Lacey's two-year-old son is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia 0:35:29 Lacey and her family move to Boston for medical and schooling options 0:38:01 Lacey shares that her son has responded well to treatment and hasn't shown signs of cancer for six weeks 0:42:12 Lacey discusses the importance of finding a community in Boston where her son can see other families like his 0:45:29 Lacey expresses her love for humanity and her belief in living a kind and empathetic life without religion 0:47:27 Lacey commends those who are working to bridge the gap between conservative religions and the queer community for the sake of queer youth 0:48:37 Lacey acknowledges the challenges of raising triplets #QueerFamilyPodcast #ComingOut #LGBTQ+ #LesbianMom #FamilyBuilding #FertilityTreatments #AtHomeInsemination #Triplets #InfertilityStruggles #ChildhoodLeukemia #familydynamics

Corey Allen, a former Secret Service agent and current future dad on a surrogacy journey, shares his experience of leading a double life while working in law enforcement and the challenges he faced as a gay man. He also discusses his surrogacy journey, including the setbacks and the decision to use two surrogates. Corey highlights the financial and legal obstacles that LGBTQ+ families often encounter and the importance of sharing stories to create awareness and promote change. Tune in for an inspiring and informative conversation. This is an essential listen for anyone in the LGBTQIA community considering family life, as well as for allies seeking understanding and connection. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Queer Family podcast that celebrates, uplifts, and normalizes diverse family narratives. 🏳️‍🌈Thanks to ⁠Pregnant Together⁠ https://community.pregnanttogether.com/plans/381803?bundle_token=8fac5f9c74e1b8604e54b6a04de597fe&utm_source=manual, and our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ supporters. 🏳️‍🌈Interested in advertising? Check out our packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/sponsor-us-2 🏳️‍🌈Key Takeaways:🏳️‍🌈  * Corey Allen shares his experience of living a double life as a closeted Secret Service agent, the eventual coming out, and his personal journey to find love and start a family. * Corey and his fiance Johnny's path to parenthood includes navigating the surrogacy journey with its emotional, financial, and logistical challenges. * The importance of genetic connection in surrogacy decisions is discussed, as is the strategic choice to use both partners' DNA with the same egg donor. * There is an emphasis on the legal complexities and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ families in the surrogacy process, including the lack of insurance coverage and the necessity for second-parent adoption. * Corey's advocacy work and his book "Breaking Free" spotlight the need for broader awareness and support for queer families. 🏳️‍🌈Quotes:🏳️‍🌈 * "There were red flags that our agency didn't pick up on, or they should have." - Cory 🏳️‍🌈About The Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈 * Corey Allen is a former Secret Service agent with a compelling story to share about his life and experiences. He has served in law enforcement as a police officer and has provided protection for high-profile figures including the Obamas. Corey has also authored the book "Breaking Free," where he shares his saga of self-discovery as a gay Secret Service agent. Currently, he's an advocate for LGBTQIA+ family building and shares his and his fiancé Johnny's journey through surrogacy. 🏳️‍🌈Resources mentioned in the episode:  * CoryAllenBooks.com https://www.coryallenbooks.com/ 🏳️‍🌈We want to hear from you! 🏳️‍🌈 - Call us and leave a voicemail or text: 646-470-1840 - Email: thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast - Website: https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ovariestalk/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequeerfamilypodcast - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNhon0J_IfFovDUAzS9v2WQ 🏳️‍🌈Order the #ITOCT book Amazon, IndieBound, Audible🏳️‍🌈 https://amzn.to/3F9qRUc 🏳️‍🌈Buy our merch here🏳️‍🌈 https://bit.ly/TQFPmerchandise 🏳️‍🌈Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: Tiffany Topol\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato🏳️‍🌈 🎙️ Episode Chapters: 0:00:00 Jaimie introduces the episode and sponsor, Pregnant Together 0:01:12 Corey's experience with an adoption agency 0:05:19 Introduction to Corey Allen 0:06:05 Corey's elevator pitch 0:07:35 Corey's experience as a Secret Service agent 0:11:00 Transitioning to Corey's surrogacy journey 0:12:10 Challenges and red flags in the surrogacy process 0:14:22 The importance of LGBTQ+ advocacy 0:17:55 Balancing work and personal life 0:19:12 Surrogacy journey update 0:21:30 Navigating the financial aspects of surrogacy 0:23:45 The emotional toll of the surrogacy process 0:27:40 The impact of COVID-19 on the surrogacy journey 0:29:15 Closing remarks and future plans

🏳️‍🌈Thanks to our sponsors🏳️‍🌈 Our Shelves (code QUEERFAM): https://www.ourshelves.com/ 🏳️‍🌈Interested in advertising? Check out our packages here🏳️‍🌈 https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/sponsor-us-2 If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for as low as $2/month! https://bit.ly/3PPGoNY 🏳️‍🌈We want to hear from you! 🏳️‍🌈 - Call us and leave a voicemail or text: 646-470-1840 - Email: thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com IG/Twitter/FB/TikTok/YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast - Website: https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ovariestalk/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequeerfamilypodcast - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNhon0J_IfFovDUAzS9v2WQ 🏳️‍🌈Order the #ITOCT book Amazon, IndieBound, Audible🏳️‍🌈 https://amzn.to/3F9qRUc 🏳️‍🌈Buy our merch here🏳️‍🌈 https://bit.ly/TQFPmerchandise 🏳️‍🌈Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: Tiffany Topol\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato🏳️‍🌈 Chapters: 🎙️ Episode Highlights: