At The Prelude Network, It's Pride All Year Long

LGBTQ+ people represent a powerful force in culture, and exert considerable economic leverage. Corporations recognize this, and as a result June, which is synonymous in many places around the world with Pride Month, sees an annual torrent of messaging and marketing focused on the LGBTQ+ community.

But corporate celebration of the LGTBQ+ share of their customer base can feel provisional, even transactional, when companies limit their outreach and acknowledgement to one month out of the year, with their friendly overtures and messages of allyship fading away on July 1st.

Such is not the case with The Prelude Network, North America's largest and fastest-growing network of fertility centers. The Prelude Network prioritizes working with LGTBQ+ families looking to welcome children into their lives using Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), including In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF. That priority brings with it a deeply ingrained sense of respect for the individuals who turn to the Prelude Network, and a willingness to listen to the stories, perspectives, and – above all – the family-building dreams of those individuals to help make those dreams a reality.

Dr. David Prokai, a provider at Aspire Fertility in Austin, Texas, notes that while his clinic makes sure "that we have a presence, whether it's at Charity walks or booths, at Pride events," the clinic's outreach to the queer community is meant to "highlight what we do year-round."

Pride Month outreach, Dr. Prokai notes, takes the form of "a lot of messaging that very much affirms all families during Pride month," with "lots of Pride flags and messaging in the clinic." But, he adds, the rainbow welcome mat isn't rolled up and put away come the end of June. "There also is permanent artwork showing multi-dimensional, multi-faceted families" at Aspire. "It's kind of year-round, showing we help families of all of all persuasions and all orientations that come to our door."

Dr. Allison Bloom, a reproductive endocrinologist with Main Line Fertility – a Pennsylvania-based fertility clinic with six locations around the state – agrees, noting that Mainline Fertility celebrates Pride Month with the queer community. "There's all these pride events that we have presence at," Dr. Bloom explains, adding that this Pride season "we're doing an LGBTQ family-building lecture" for families interested in exploring ART-related options.

Dr. Bloom notes that with increasing awareness around IVF, "we are not in that place anymore where people are not having these conversations all year round. I think people know what's out there. Many gay couples and single gay persons know that they want children, and it's part of their life plan, regardless of what month it is."

The Prelude Network is ready at any season to meet that need, offering the respectful guidance and expertise that is a hallmark of all their associated clinics.

"I really love stressing is that we are not one of those companies that is all about pride in June, and then the rest of the year has no focus on the LGBTQ+ community," says Andréa Cara of The Prelude Network. "I really do love that about us, that it is a 365-day year effort. It's not just this June bump."

Cara notes that Pride Month might be "a time where we get to talk about it, and everybody else gets to talk about it, and maybe a few more people listen. But it really is year-round work. And clearly you can see why, because our team is so passionate about it."

Pride Month has another connection to family building: Brian Rosenberg, the founder and head of Gay With Kids Academy – an organization that works closely with The Prelude Network, helping LGBTQ+ families welcome children into their lives by providing cost-free information, networking, and mentorship – revealed this startling insight: "Father's Day will bring up thoughts of, 'Oh, I'm not a dad yet, but I want to be a dad.' We always have messages on Father's Day that convey, 'Let's go on this journey no, so that next Father's Day you won't feel like you haven't done anything yet.' So, it's less about Pride and more about Dad's Day."

Adds Rosenberg: "I love the fact that today guys in their 20s and 30s know the question isn't, 'Can I become a dad?' It's like, 'When will I become a dad?' And perhaps, 'Which path to fatherhood would be best for me?' That, to me, is just so awesome."

For queer couples and prospective single parents asking just those questions – "Which path is best for me?" – The Prelude Network is ready, offering answers from a place of expertise, empathy, and acceptance of all families, not just during this month of Pride and communal celebration, but all year long.