Meet Mark and Eoin, two Irish dads proving that queer family building is both an act of love and of advocacy. Their path to fatherhood took them from Ireland to New York and Texas—navigating surrogacy independently, honoring their daughters’ Nigerian-Irish heritage, and pushing the Irish government to finally recognize families like theirs.
Together, they’ve turned loss, learning, and legislation into love and legacy. From discovering their donor’s culture to challenging outdated Irish surrogacy laws, Mark and Eoin remind us that sometimes the most radical thing LGBTQIA+ parents can do is parent out loud—and make the system catch up.
🏳️🌈 Key Takeaways
- Building a family through independent surrogacy during the pandemic
- The loss of a twin and honoring his memory
- Advocating for inclusive parental-leave and insurance coverage at work
- Fighting Ireland’s restrictive surrogacy laws and founding Irish Gay Dads
- Raising biracial daughters as white Irish dads in Harlem
- Teaching representation, identity, and cultural pride from day one
- Why advocacy often begins with telling your own story
🏳️🌈 About the Guest(s)🏳️🌈
- Mark and Eoin O’Looney Cannon: Together, they co-run the social media page Two Men in a Surrogacy, where they share their family’s journey and advocate for inclusive, ethical surrogacy practices. Eoin serves as the Vice Chairperson of Irish Gay Dads, a group dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ parents and pushing for legislative reform.
🏳️🌈 Thanks to our sponsor California Cryobank!
If you’re listening to this show, there’s a good chance you’re building your family the queer way — and might need a little help in the sperm department. 🩵 Use code QUEERFAM25 at cryobank.com for a FREE Level 2 subscription to their donor catalog!
🏳️🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/
🏳️🌈 Resources Mentioned
- Follow Mark and Eoin: https://www.instagram.com/twomenandasurrogacy/
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🏳️🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website
🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.
The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!
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