VIRTUAL: People Conceived w/ Donor Support Panel | 6pm-8pm PT

  This event REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Please EMAIL Krystal Peak [she/her], at krystal@ourfamily.org with any questions.

Many LGBTQ+ folks need assistance when building their family. Whether from donor eggs, sperm, or embryos, these choices have become more commonplace both via DIY methods and medical interventions. Unlike previous generations, though, children born from donor-assisted LGBTQ+ families are now at an age where they can share their experience growing up and learning about their origins.

Our Family Coalition is excited to feature several young adults from LGBTQ+ families to share the story of their families, how they grew up learning about their family structure and provide insight to current and prospective parents about having these family conversations early and often. 

Some members of the panel are:

Rachel Leighson (she/her) is a sperm donor child of two moms. She was conceived via the California Cryobank in 1990 and found her donor four years ago through Ancestry.com. She now knows of 19 half-siblings and counting! She's also very excited to be bringing donor-conceived voices Off Broadway in New York this June with her play, Little Egg, Big World.

Jean Azar-Tanguay (she/her) is originally from Boston Massachusetts. She is currently studying biochemistry and Arabic at the University of Richmond where she is also a tour guide, her class chair, and president of the club rowing team. Jean was born to her two dads, Norm and Peter, in 2001 with the help of her egg donor, Peter's sister Nancy, and a gestational surrogate. Thanks to this technology she is biologically related to both of her dads. She has one full biological brother, Luc, who is a year and a half younger than her who was conceived and born in a similar way. Her aunt/ egg donor, Nancy, and Nancy's wife J have played a huge role in her life. Outside of studying, Jean loves to bake with her dad, exercise, and watch college basketball or baseball depending on the season.

Sierra Loya  (she/her) Although born in the Bay Area, Sierra was raised by her two moms in Texas. While In the Bay Area, Sierra and her moms’ were members of the 1994 East Bay-based Our Family group. After moving to the South, her family continued to participate for most of her childhood in a gay parenting group, LEMOSA (Lesbian Moms of San Antonio). Although the South brought its own challenges, her family remained rooted in the LGBTQ+ community.

Sierra received her undergraduate degree from The University of Alabama and her master’s degree from Yale University. Sierra now works in nonprofit fundraising and development, and lives in The Castro District of San Francisco with her Fiancée, Sparks, and their three fur-babies. Sierra is excited to get married next year and start her own journey to build their queer family with the assistance of a donor.

Sekai Lyles-Parks (she/her) is a 16-year-old girl with two moms from Oakland, California. She loves to dance, cheer, write, and stand up for equity and justice. When she isn't taking care of schoolwork or cheering, she loves to hang out with her friends and loved ones, read and write, and build her social media platform.

Please RSVP so we get an accurate count on interest.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022  •  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST

Taking place virtually via secure Zoom phone and video conference, the details of which will be emailed along with your confirmation and in the pre-event reminder email.

Please register using the link above, and we'll contact you with the secure telehealth conference call phone number and video link URL. To be sure to allow us enough time to get back to you with the contact information, please register as early as possible; remember also to check your spam folder if you've not received access info. Our video and audio conferencing are HIPAA-compliant and preserve the security and confidentiality of all our participants to the highest standards possible. [Further information about Zoom meeting HIPAA compliance here.]

We are committed to ensuring our programs are accessible to all families. When you're registering, please let us know of any accommodations that would help your family participate to the fullest (e.g. ASL interpreter, translated materials, childcare providers experienced with kids with disabilities, large print materials, gluten-free food options, etc.). If registering within 48 hours of the event, please call 415-981-1960 to ensure our receipt of your request. As you are able, please help us continue offering these resources to all who need them, by making a financial donation to OFC.