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How to Talk to Your Kids about their Donor Conception Workshop Part 1 - Expert Session

06/03/2026 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM PT

Description

 

 How to Talk to Your Kids about their Donor Conception Workshop Part 1 - Expert Session

What:

LGBTQ+ families are created in many beautiful and diverse ways, and for many families, donor conception plays an important role in that journey. Conversations about donor conception can bring up important questions around identity, family, belonging, and how to share these stories with children in thoughtful and affirming ways.

In partnership with COLAGE and The Sperm Bank of California, Our Family Coalition is excited to present this two-part workshop series focused on navigating conversations about donor conception within LGBTQ+ families.

During the first session, experts in donor conception, LGBTQ+ family building, and child development will guide participants through key considerations for discussing donor conception with children. The conversation will explore different donor arrangements. Including known, unknown, open, and closed donors and how those dynamics may shape family conversations and experiences over time. Participants will leave with practical tools, resources, and strategies for approaching these conversations with care, confidence, and transparency.

The second session will center the voices and lived experiences of donor-conceived adults with LGBTQ+ parents. We believe it is essential that donor-conceived people remain at the heart of conversations surrounding donor conception and family building. Panelists will share personal stories, reflections, and insights about identity, family, and growing up in LGBTQ+ households. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in a community Q&A and ask thoughtful questions about how to approach these conversations within their own families.

While each session can stand on its own, we highly encourage families to attend both workshops to gain a more comprehensive understanding of donor conception, family storytelling, and identity development.

We encourage participants to come prepared with questions and reflections as we engage in this meaningful and community-centered conversation.

Meet the Expert Panelists:

Alice Ruby, Executive Director of The Sperm Bank of California:

Alice Ruby, MPH, is Executive Director of The Sperm Bank of California (TSBC), the only non-profit sperm bank in the US. TSBC has been providing ethical family building services for the LGBTQ community since 1982.  In addition to program oversight, Alice collaborates on research about donor-conceived families with TSBC Research Director, Joanna Scheib, and speaks about donor conception at community and professional events.  She has released donor identities to 200+ donor-conceived adults, connected 1400+ families with others who share their donor, and worked with 500+ sperm donors, providing resources and support to parents, donors, and donor-conceived people.  Alice was formerly on the Board of Directors for Our Family Coalition.  She is a second-generation queer parent of an 18-year-old who is donor-conceived.  
 
(More Bios to Come)

When:

Wednesday, June 3rd  • 6:00 PM - 8:00PM

Where:

Taking place virtually via secure Zoom phone and video conference -- Participants will receive the Zoom meeting information via email following registration.

For More Information:

Please contact our Programs Team, at Info@ourfamily.org with any questions.

Please register using the link at the top of this page.
 

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. This event – including refreshments and childcare, as applicable – is offered free for all attendees. As you are able, please help us continue offering these resources to all who need them, by making a financial donation to OFC.

 

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