If you've already found the strength to come out while in a straight marriage with kids, we believe you can literally do ANYTHING! This episode, GWK host David Dodge talks to motivational speaker, life coach, podcaster and gay dad Rick Clemons about how to live an authentic, fulfilling life after coming out when you have children. As Rick explains, he came out when his daughters were very young, but no matter how old your kids are, coming out as a dad is never easy. Since then, Rick has...

You may know proctologist Dr. Evan Goldstein as New York City's "Butt Doctor," or maybe as the gay dad who appeared in a Postmates commercial talking about the best foods to eat as a bottom (youtube.com/watch?v=qmSX7NjsDKA) But performing and discussing anal surgery is just one of the ways he helps queer men maintain their sexual health. As a gay dad-of-two and the founder of Bespoke Surgical in NYC, Dr. Goldstein has a lot of solid sexual advice for other gay dads, whether single or...

Researching LGBTQ+ parents is a very complex task, but thankfully the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School is doing the work to form a more complete picture of the queer parenting community, who we are, how we're forming our families, and what supports we need. This episode, host David Dodge talks to Williams Institute Research Director Kerith Conron about the reported rates of queer people in the US, what is and is not know about gay parents, and why it's important for researchers to...

Having kids in former straight relationships is one of the most common ways gay, bi and trans men become fathers. After dads come out, many of those relationships turn into co-parenting situations. But what is not often discussed is just what gay men go through when they come out to their wife and kids, how much strength it takes for them to build a whole new life, and the joy that can exist after wounds have started to heal. This episode, hear an inspirational story of resilience with Nigel...

Actor Claybourne Elder opens up about his life as a gay dad and full-time performer in Broadway's revival of Company and HBO's hit show The Gilded Age. This episode, host David Dodge and Claybourne discuss their shared upbringings in Utah's Mormon communities, Claybourne's experience coming out as gay, and his experience forming his family through surrogacy. They discuss why Claybourne and his husband picked IVF and surrogacy, and how they maintain relationships with their son's surrogate...

The Supreme Court's decision on Dobbs v Jackson, which overturned Roe v Wade and ended the constitutional right to abortion access in the U.S., could have some serious implications for the LGBTQ+ community, and we have a lot of questions. Will the ruling impact how gay people foster, adopt, or access IVF? Does it signal the end of marriage equality? Should unmarried gay parents be concerned? And what can the queer community do now to stand up for our rights and the rights of people with...

Father-of-four Jonathan Joly and his family have lived in the public eye for more than a decade as YouTube sensations. Amid the pandemic, when his 8-year-old daughter came out to him as trans, Jonathan decided to tell the world that he identifies as non-binary. Initially, the Joly family underwent an onslaught of negativity from both the media and the parenting community, but they have since found strength in their new identity as a queer-centric family. On this episode, Jonathan tells GWK...

We check back in with Mario and Monte Foreman-Powell, the Nebraska military couple who just became new dads with the help of an altruistic surrogate, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and an at-home surrogacy kit made by Mosie Baby. Mario and Monte tell host Brit Smith about the day their daughter Marayla was born, the issues they faced with health insurance coverage, and what they need to do to get both their names on their child's birth certificate in Nebraska. They also talk about what the first...

It's Manhattan, NY in 2022, and we're still fighting for gay rights. This episode, we delve into the ongoing legal case of husbands Corey Briskin and Nicholas Maggipinto, who are suing the City of New York after their city-based health insurance plan rejected their bid to have a child through in vitro fertilization (IVF). According to their lawyer Peter Romer-Friedman, Corey and Nicholas' case shows that New York City "categorically excludes gay male employees from receiving in vitro...

New York City drag queen Ginger Ladd is more than just a fabulous nightlife entertainer, she is also one of the city's many gay foster parents. This episode, host David Dodge talks to Ginger (while she gets all made up!) about how she met her husband Mr. Ladd, how they connected with their oldest son and decided to enter the foster care system, and her real take on what it's like becoming a foster parent. They also discuss how Ginger became a drag performer, how she balances her full time...

We're kicking off Pride Month with a very honest conversation with social media influencers Burton Buffaloe (@bbbuffaloe) Dustin Smith (@dustin_patrick_smith) and José Rolón (@nycgaydad) about what it's like being a gay dad with such a public life. Aside from managing a major social media following, the dads also stay busy with their own businesses, appearing in magazines and on TV, and of course raising their awesome kids. So how do they balance it all, is it as perfect as it seems on IG,...

This bonus episode is all about the current baby formula shortage and its impact on queer families in the U.S., especially gay dads with newborns through adoption or foster care. First, host Brit Smith checks in with new dads Mario and Monte in Nebraska to discuss the impact of the shortage on their 3-month-old daughter. Then, Brit talks to leading California-based pediatrician and author of the book “What to Feed Your Baby" Dr. Tanya Altmann about the impact of the formula crisis on new...

If you think adoption may be the right path to parenthood for you, there are three options; private adoption, adoption through the foster care system, and international adoption. Unsurprisingly, international adoption comes with plenty of extra hurdles for queer parents-to-be. But it is possible, especially with the help of the right experts. This episode, host David Dodge talks to Lauren Jiang, Director of Permanency & Client Services at Spence Chapin, one of the only adoption agencies...

GWK Host David Dodge talks to Hunter Bigham, a gay dad in Mississippi with three adult kids from a former straight marriage. Years after coming out, Hunter met his now-husband Johnny, an adult film star who also goes by the stage name Tyler Saint. This episode, Hunter opens up about his upbringing as a gay child in a Southern Baptist church, his coming out experience, his brush with conversion therapy, his struggles co-parenting, and how he eventually met and introduced his kids to Johnny....

Financial planning can be tricky at the best of times. For gay/bi/trans fathers, or men who are hoping to become dads, there are often some additional financial roadblocks including insurance, legal fees, and adoption or surrogacy agency costs. This episode, host David Dodge talks to LGBTQ+ financial expert Matthew Erickson of Northwestern Mutual, about how gay, bi and trans men can raise money and save for starting a family, and how they can tackle their debt if they're trying to prepare...

Financial planning can be tricky at the best of times. For gay/bi/trans fathers, or men who are hoping to become dads, there are often some additional financial roadblocks including insurance, legal fees, and adoption or surrogacy agency costs. This episode, host David Dodge talks to LGBTQ+ financial expert Matthew Erickson of Northwestern Mutual, about how gay, bi and trans men can raise money and save for starting a family, and how they can tackle their debt if they're trying to prepare...

We're checking back in with Nebraska military couple Mario and Monte Foreman-Powell to see how their at-home surrogacy journey is going. Husbands Mario and Monte were featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on NBC in March 2021, where they first shared their story of wanting to become dads. As Black men and active members of their church, they had to hide their relationship due to homophobia for many years. But Mario and Monte bravely came out, got married, and have now decided to form their own...

For Valentine's Day, GWK is celebrating single gay dads, and the gay men who want to become dads, by hearing about one rare love connection made within the GWK online community. Host David Dodge talks to Arin Lopez and Derek Swenson, a couple who met on Instagram after Arin was featured on a Gays With Kids story about him and his foster kids. The dads discuss how they first met, what dating was like both with and without kids, how the foster system works for single gay, bi and trans men in...

What's changed for queer youth over the years, and how gay adults can support LGBTQ+ youth amid the pandemic? GWK host David Dodge talks to Chris Bright, foster parent and Director of Public Training at The Trevor Project, about the results of The Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 as a support hotline for LGBTQ+ youth. In the decades since, its counselors have helped support millions of queer kids and teens across the...

Queer parents have a lot on their shoulders; aside from all the accolades that come with being gay, we also have kids to raise! And then there's the ever-present anxiety that our families are constantly being watched by the rest of the world. Gay parents often form their families via foster and adoption, which means our children may have gone through significant trauma in their own lives as well. So how do gay dads prioritize self-care and focus on our own trauma, while also being the best...

Raising kids who are allies to the LGBTQ+ community may seem like second-nature to gay parents, but everyone has their blind spots. And what about our straight family and friends? Although they may be allies themselves, many may not be aware of how their words, actions, and even gifts can influence how the kids in their lives understand LGBTQ+ people. This episode, GWK Executive Editor David Dodge talks to author, teacher, and speaker Chris Tompkins about his stocking-stuffer-perfect book...

December 1st marks World AIDS Day, a day for younger generations of queer folk to connect with and learn from the gay men who made it through the tragic AIDS epidemic. Since the 1980's, gay dad and psychiatrist Dr. Marshall Forstein has gone from treating gay men suffering from AIDS and HIV to helping gay men live healthy lives and plan to become fathers. He not only cared for AIDS patients in Boston at the height of the epidemic, Dr. Forstein was also part of the first gay couple to adopt a...

Many countries' borders are reopening, COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out for kids, whether you're staying domestic or going international, thousands of families are already have travel plans for Spring Break 2022. When it comes to families with same-sex parents, however, finding a vacation spot that is both kid-friendly and LGBTQ+ friendly can often feel like a huge and stressful task. This episode, GWK host David Dodge talks to two experts about navigating travel as a gay parent. First,...