Join host Jaimie as she talks with Alicia and Emily, a queer couple who left a conservative Christian university in Texas for a new life in Scotland. They reflect on the challenges they faced with family acceptance and the struggles of growing up in restrictive environments. In Scotland, they’ve found a supportive healthcare system that has made reciprocal IVF not only affordable but also accessible, transforming their parenthood journey. Against the current socio-political climate in the U.S., Alicia and Emily's story offers an inspiring look at finding community and hope abroad as they pursue their family dreams.

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🏳️‍🌈Key Takeaways:🏳️‍🌈 

• Healththcare Differences: Scotland's national healthcare system offers more affordable and accessible fertility treatments than are typically available in the U.S.
• Reciprocal IVF Journey: Alicia and Emily chose reciprocal IVF, with Emily providing the eggs and Alicia carrying their daughter, illustrating an ideal familial path for them.
• Family and Acceptance: Navigating familial relationships as a queer couple from a conservative background was challenging, yet Alicia and Emily have learned to find and create supportive networks.
• Mental Health Advocacy: Alicia's experience with therapy and medication underscores the importance of mental health stability, especially when navigating processes like fertility treatment.
• Queer Visibility: Their story contributes to greater visibility of queer families, and highlights the vital need for supportive environments and policies.

🏳️‍🌈About The Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈 

• Alicia and Emily are a queer couple originally from the United States, who are now living in Scotland. Both Alicia and Emily grew up in conservative religious environments in Texas, where they first met in university. Overcoming personal, familial, and societal challenges, they relocated to Scotland, where they are now raising their daughter. Emily works in a specialized field, which facilitated their move abroad, while Alicia has found strength in therapy and advocacy for mental health.

🏳️‍🌈Resources mentioned in the episode: 

• California Cryobank: Explore donor options and use promo code "LOVEISLOVE" for a Level 2 subscription at cryobank.com.

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🏳️‍🌈Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: ⁠⁠⁠Tiffany Topol⁠⁠⁠\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato.

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