More Than Rainbows
By Emma York-Jones
Last month, my son had the privilege of competing in the Little League home run derby. With that privilege came the request for a fun fact to be read when he was announced. When I asked what fun fact he wanted to share, he immediately said “I have two moms”. I found myself quickly deflecting and encouraging him to think of something else. Why? I didn’t know. We decided on something else, the fact that he was on the front cover of a magazine. Later, I did approach him and tell him I shouldn’t have suggested he think of another fact, and that he should be proud that he has two moms, and I’m not sure why I tried to sway him from that. His response was, “I am proud that I have two moms, and everyone already knows that.” It was a sweet moment, but I still think about why I had the reaction that I did. Do I want our family to blend in – not necessarily; am I fearful that we’re different – not at all. I am proud of the family my wife and I have created, and all the thought, care, education, and finances that went into it. The two boys who make up our family were desired from before we even knew it was possible.
June is a month that families like mine are put on center stage and celebrated. What many don’t see is that behind the glitter and rainbows are all the paths that are taken to create the family, through pregnancy, adoption, fostering, surrogacy, donor conception, co-parenting, and countless other journeys. Each path carries its own joys, challenges, hopes, and uncertainties. For many LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples, the road to bringing a child into their family often requires extraordinary intention, perseverance, and advocacy. It may involve navigating legal systems, fertility treatments, financial barriers, discrimination, or questions that many other families never have to consider. Long before a baby arrives, there can be a tremendous mental and emotional load carried by hopeful parents who are working to make their family possible.
When we talk about perinatal mental health, we must acknowledge that these experiences matter. The stress of family-building, concerns about acceptance, worries about legal protections, and the desire to find providers and communities that affirm one’s identity all shape the transition into parenthood.
This Pride Month, we celebrate the resilience, strength, and joy of LGBTQIA+ families. We honor the work it takes to build a family, the courage it takes to parent authentically, and the importance of communities that embrace all families.
Because every family deserves support. Every parent deserves to be seen. And every child deserves to grow up knowing their family belongs.
And that little boy in the home run derby? He still got to show how proud he is of his two-mom family by being the first participant to choose his mom to pitch.