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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 host David Dodge about his childhood in Ireland, his early experiences as a non-binary person, and how he created an imaginary world full of acceptance which inspired his new book; "All My Friends Are Invisible." Jonathan also discusses how he and his wife dealt with the public backlash of his announcement, how they talked to their kids about understanding gender identity, and how he continues to speak out about being a non-binary parent with a trans kid through his online content. Find GWK on social media @gays_with_kids and learn about becoming a gay dad with the help of GWK Academy at GaysWithKids.com/GWK-Academy Thanks to our sponsors: - Little Spoon organic baby, toddler and kid food; Get 50% off your first order of delicious pre-made healthy plates at LittleSpoon.com with the checkout code GWK50. - Mosie Baby, helping queer families avoid some of the high costs of IVF; go to MosieBaby.com and get 10% off at-home insemination kits with the code GWK10. - Magic Spoon healthier cereals, go to MagicSpoon.com/GWK and use the code GWK for $5 off.

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 few weeks of being dads have been like, how they've stayed stocked up during the formula crisis, how they've been practicing self-care, and how they handled Mother's Day this year. Follow us on social media @gays_with_kids, and go to GaysWithKids.com to learn more about our gay dad peer support group and GWK Academy, helping you with every step of becoming a father. Thanks to this episode's sponsors Mosie Baby, find out more about at-home insemination kits at MosieBaby.com, and Little Spoon, use code GWK50 at LittleSpoon.com for 50% off your first order of healthy delivery baby, toddler, and kid meals.

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 fertilization benefits under the City’s health plan," while affording the same benefits to heterosexual couples, singles, and lesbian couples. This episode, GWK host David Dodge talks to hopeful dads Corey and Nicholas and their attorney Peter about the husbands' groundbreaking lawsuit, and how it could set a new precedent for the rights of queer male couples who want to form their families through surrogacy and IVF. Follow GWK on social media @gays_with_kids and learn more about becoming a gay dad at GaysWithKids.com. Thanks to this episode's sponsors; Mosie Baby, find out more about at-home insemination options at MosieBaby.com and use code GWK10 for 10% off. And thanks to Little Spoon; go to LittleSpoon.com and enter code GWK50 for 50% off your first order of organic baby, toddler and kid food.

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 schedule with raising two teens, and where fellow gay dads can go see her perform this Pride Month in New York, including at Ginger Ladd’s Third Annual Rockaway Pride. Get tickets at rockawaypride.eventbrite.com Find out more about our guest at GingerLadd.com, DragQueensAndKings.com, find her podcast Dear Ginger Ladd on all audio platforms. Follow Ginger Ladd on Instagram @thegingerladd | on TikTok @gingerladd | on Twitter @realgingerladd | and get a cameo at Cameo.com/GingerLadd Follow Gays With Kids on social media @gays_with_kids and learn more about becoming a dad while gay at GaysWithKids.com. Make sure to check out GWK Academy, which will guide you on your path to parenthood from the start. Thanks to our sponsors: - Little Spoon organic baby, toddler and kid food; Get 50% off your first order of delicious pre-made healthy plates at LittleSpoon.com with the checkout code GWK50. - Mosie Baby, helping queer families avoid some of the high costs of IVF; go to MosieBaby.com and get 10% off at-home insemination kits with the code GWK10. - Magic Spoon healthier cereals, go to MagicSpoon.com/GWK and use the code GWK for $5 off.

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, and why do they do it? This episode, influencer husbands Dustin and Burton talk about choosing to have kids after Burton was subjected to conversion therapy, their life on and offline, their experience moving to a farm near Raleigh NC amid the pandemic, and what it means for their kids' futures for the dads to have family-centric social media accounts. Single gay dad José opens up about his decision to keep his twin pregnancy the week after his husband suddenly passed away, how he balances being a single dad and a professional wedding planner with a new TV show in the works, and how he decides what does and does not appear on his social media channels. Follow GWK on social media @gays_with_kids and learn more about becoming a gay dad at GaysWithKids.com. Thanks to this episode's sponsors; Mosie Baby, find out more about at-home insemination kits at MosieBaby.com and use code GWK10 for 10% off. And thanks to Little Spoon; go to LittleSpoon.com and enter code GWK50 for 50% off your first order of organic baby, toddler and kid food.

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 parents. Dr. Altmann covers what gay parents should know about changing formula brands, what to do to find specialized formula during the shortage, other options for iron-rich nutrition, and when the crisis may be over. Follow us on social media @gays_with_kids and find all the news, stories and information important to the LGBTQ+ parenting community at GaysWithKids.com

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 that helps LGBTQ+ singles and couples in the U.S. with international adoption in South Africa and Colombia. David and Lauren also discuss Spence Chapin's wonderful initiative, The Granny Program, which pairs children in orphanages in South Africa with a grandparent-figure who can give them one-on-one attention until they are placed with their forever families. Read more about the Granny Program at gayswithkids.com, follow us on social media @gays_with_kids, and learn about Spence Chapin's family services at Spence-Chapin.org. GWK the Podcast will be back with season 3 soon!

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. Hunter also discusses Johnny's childhood in foster care, his entrance into the porn industry, and how the couple approached the topic of Johnny's job with Hunter's adult children. Read Hunter and Johnny's family story at gayswithkids.com and follow us on social media @gays_with_kids. Produced by Brit Smith.

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 for parenthood. Sign up for Matthew's upcoming GWK webinar, "Financial Planning for New Parents" at gayswithkids.com/en/events and follow us on social media @gays_with_kids.

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 family. GWK is picking up the story and following along as they try an at-home surrogacy kit made by Mosie Baby, and prepare to become first-time fathers. Read more at Gayswithkids.com and follow GWK on social media @gays_with_kids. Produced by Brit Smith.

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 Arizona, and how their kids and family adjusted when their relationship was new. Learn more about their story at GaysWithKids.com and follow us on social media @gays_with_kids - Produced by Brit Smith.

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 U.S. Find out more about The Trevor Project at thetrevorproject.org and gayswithkids.com, and follow GWK on social media @gays_with_kids Produced by Brit Smith.