Queer Parenting & LGBTQ Families: The “Do We Want Kids?” Conversation

Queer Parenting & LGBTQ Families: The “Do We Want Kids?” Conversation

Author: Jaimie Kelton – Queer Parenting & LGBTQ Families'. April 20, 2026 Duration: 49:14

Dianni Hall—queer Latina, former full-time traveler, and Jaimie’s new assistant producer on The Queer Family Podcast(!) —joins us for a conversation that starts with queer family life and dating… and turns into a very real discussion about queer parenting, LGBTQ+ families, and whether or not to have kids at all.

We talk about LGBTQ parenting, intentional relationships, and what it means to build a life outside the traditional path—plus the very real questions that come up when you’re part of LGBTQ families thinking about the future.

This is one of those gay podcast stories that is equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and deeply honest.

Biggest Takeaway? When you don’t have a blueprint, you get to build your life on purpose.

🏳️‍🌈 Key Takeaways

  • Queer parenting starts long before kids—it begins with intentional conversations about the life you want to build
  • LGBTQ families often approach relationships differently because there’s no default path to follow
  • Coming out isn’t always a clean story—sometimes you get found out and have to figure it out from there
  • Internalized shame can take years to unpack, even after you’ve accepted your identity
  • Meeting the right partner can completely shift your perspective on marriage and kids
  • There are many paths to queer family building—adoption, foster care, donor conception—and none are one-size-fits-all
  • Known donors can offer connection and openness, but come with their own complexities
  • Not everyone in LGBTQ parenting wants to carry—and that’s valid
  • Generational differences are real—Gen Z is approaching queerness and LGBTQ family life with more openness and fluidity
  • When you live outside the norm, you’re forced to ask deeper questions—and that can lead to more intentional, aligned lives


🏳️‍🌈 About the guest(s)

Dianni Hall is a queer Latina, podcast producer, and former full-time traveler who spent six years backpacking around the world. She previously hosted the podcast While She’s Away, where she shared stories of solo female and queer travel. She now works behind the scenes on The Queer Family Podcast and Love, Take Two—and is officially stepping out from behind the curtain.

🏳️‍🌈 Resources Mentioned

  • Dianni’s podcast While She’s Away


🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Email thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com


🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email thequeerfamilypodcast@gmail.com—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 


🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Co-produced by Jaimie Kelton & Dianni Hall 🏳️‍🌈 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!



Our Sponsors:
* Check out Outdoorsy and use my code QUEERFAM for a great deal: https://www.outdoorsy.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Every family has a story, but the paths taken by LGBTQIA+ parents are often uniquely creative, filled with both profound joy and specific hurdles. The Queer Family Podcast-LGBTQ Families & Queer Parenting Stories is a weekly space where those narratives take center stage. Host Jaimie Kelton, a queer mom herself, guides conversations that are as laugh-out-loud funny as they are deeply moving. Each episode features candid interviews with a diverse range of guests, all sharing the intimate details of how they built their families-from adoption and fostering to IVF, surrogacy, and co-parenting. You’ll hear how these families navigate school systems, healthcare, and everyday social situations, tackling challenges with resilience and humor. This podcast digs into the real stuff of queer family life, covering topics across parenting, health, fitness, and sexuality, all through an authentic LGBTQ lens. The goal isn’t just to share stories; it’s to normalize and celebrate the beautiful spectrum of ways to create a home. Tune in for a sense of community, practical insights, and a powerful reminder that family is about love, in all its forms.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Queer Family Podcast – LGBTQ Families & Queer Parenting Stories
Podcast Episodes
LGBTQ Fertility Options: Exploring California Cryobank [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:49
In the third episode of the series, Nicole and Shannon Want a Baby, or Do They?, Jaimie, Nicole, and Shannon dive into the world of donor conception with Sydney Sharon, an expert from California Cryobank. With 45 years o…
LGBTQIA Adoption: How to Afford $50K in Costs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:16
In the second episode of the series, "Nicole and Shannon Want a Baby, or Do They?," Jaimie, Nicole, and Shannon sit down with Becky Fawcett, founder of HelpUsAdopt.org, a nonprofit offering financial grants to help famil…
Nicole And Shannon Want a Baby, Or Do They? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:15
Jaimie sits down with her assistant Nicole and her wife Shannon. Despite Nicole having worked on this podcast about queer families for over two years, they still haven’t decided if they want to have kids. As they weigh t…
From High School Besties To Queer Mamas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:32
Ashlyn and Jessica, high school friends turned life partners from Houston, share their journey to parenthood. They discuss the challenges of coming out, choosing a sperm donor, and navigating fertility treatments. They d…
A Tale of Love, Kids, and Surrogacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:04
Ali and Megan open up to Jaimie about giving the gift of family to another queer couple through surrogacy. Ali was a recently divorced mother of two when she swiped right for Megan on Tinder. Their connection was instant…
Surrogacy, Sperm Donation, and Raising a Rainbow Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:57
Jaimie chats with Damien Chambers, a gay dad through surrogacy, a known sperm and embryo donor, and founder of Surrogacy Agency, NewGen Families. They discuss the emotional and legal intricacies of surrogacy, sperm and e…
Tyler's Journey from Closeted Christian to Proud Gay Dad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:50
Tyler, a gay dad of three, shares his transformative journey from a strict Christian upbringing to living his truth as an "ex-hetero." Highlighting his struggle with faith, family, and coming out later in life, Tyler tal…
Bonus Replay: Chateau Buteau feat. Michelle Buteau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:59
Jaimie is still on a short break with her family, but we thought you’d enjoy a hilarious interview with ally extraordinaire Michelle Buteau from 2019! Michelle Buteau talks about her six-year journey to parenthood. From…