Samuel, American Intended Parent in Portland, Oregon, USA

Explain your reasons for wanting a surrogate/donor:

For me, private donation is as much personal as it is philosophical. I believe that all humans are entitled to freedom of conception. I believe that society needs to radically rethink procreation as a basic human right that should not be limited by sexual orientation, gender, race, family status, class, or any other identifier. I believe that while private agencies and clinics are brilliant feats of modern medicine, they are cost-prohibitive and sometimes classist. I believe that two or more consenting and responsible adults should have access to no- or low-cost reproductive options through private egg and sperm donation. Private donation and surrogacy helps dismantle an otherwise exclusive marketplace for fertility options. On the personal side, whereas most children dream of successful careers, I spent my childhood dreaming of being a parent. I worked closely with children in most of my early jobs, babysitting for neighbors or working as a camp counselor every summer. Those early experiences confirmed for me that I have the desire and the skills to be a good parent and raise my own kids. Now that I'm entering a period of life where parenting is more feasible, I want to explore my options.

How would you best describe yourself(s):

I am an energetic, active, and engaged professional who loves the outdoors, cycling, and exploring hidden gems. I am originally from Ohio. I work in research and development and do research consulting with organizations in healthcare and education. In my spare time, I sing in the local Gay Men's Chorus and am very active in community organizations. I'm an adventurous soul, always looking for fun and educational activities to fill my time. My partner is total plant and farming nerd with a knack for cooking and Scandinavian culture. He is originally from Wisconsin. He is fluent in Swedish and is currently studying Norwegian. He works at a local non-profit teaching at-risk youth the basics of cultivation and harvesting vegetables. When not at work, he is usually reading horticulture books, watching RuPaul's Drag Race, or running/hiking with me.

Use this space to communicate a letter to potential Surrogates/Donors:

My partner and I are in the early stages of information gathering for growing our family. We expect to begin seriously searching for an egg donor and/or surrogate within the next 1-3 years. Right now, we are looking for contacts through this and other networks who may be open to discussing egg donation or surrogacy in the near future. We are also interested in learning from other queer couples who have similar experience and can share helpful resources.