What's missing from this picture of Max? Our wonderful friend Max has been living with an emptiness in the place where there should be a baby in his arms. Now, by a miracle of miracles that has been years in the making, his dream is finally coming true. Read on to hear the incredible story of how a devoted single trans man brings a life into the world. But it is also incredibly expensive (up to $100,000) and now we can pool together and support this person who has given our community so much.
Max worked on the administrative team of TransPonder for 6 years, has been a working board member, and continues to be on the board as the organization has grown into a mature non-profit with an ED and sizeable staff. He has been part of the organizing team of the Eugene Pride Celebration and on the board for three years. Max is a teacher at a local alternative high school, a GSA advisor, and has contributed a great deal to supporting LGBTQIA2S+ youth in the district and county. He is a doctoral student doing research focused on supporting transgender and gender nonconforming students in STEM and computer science education. Max has been a volunteer youth soccer and basketball coach, an advocate, and an educator working on creating opportunities for young people to get involved in technology and technology justice, encouraging young people to engage in conversations and actions to fight for racial, disability, and LGBTQIA2S+ justice.
After a heartbreaking reversed adoption four years ago and subsequent unsuccessful surrogacy attempts, Max has found a gestational carrier named J. They implanted on Transgender Day of Visibility and have now recorded a heartbeat, officially launching a surrogacy contract. We aim to assist Max with $25,000, which will help with medical and birth expenses not covered by insurance, expenses beyond the $60K Max has secured in an equity line of credit, legal fees to establish parentage, and the many myriads of expenses that are part of the surrogacy journey.
Max feels that this moment in time is especially significant as politicians are mounting attacks against transgender people …and more than ever, for him, the path to parenthood is a path toward being worthy of being human. Your contribution, great or small, not only helps with expenses but also extends a community of care.
Meet J, a queer nonbinary solo parent who has experience with being a gestational carrier and a midwife. It is lovely to witness the ways that J and their children support Max in growing his family. J says...
Through my experience as a fertility and birth worker, I have gotten to witness a beautiful and uniquely queer phenomenon. When queer and trans people are dependent upon others to help build their family, I often see it turned into a joyous opportunity for connection. I was then fortunate enough to get to build my own relationships in this way with those who helped create my children. And now, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be on the “helper” end of this act of co-creation.
Meet baby Cashew, at six weeks old. Cashew is an active little being with a strong heartbeat.
Donors can get updates on the baby's growth and development, as well as the progress of this network of care. Here is our first big update: June 17th will be the first prenatal appointment with the midwives. We will be entering the second trimester! Stay posted for more installments. We hope you will join us on this journey.