Mia Cooley, founder of xHood, joins ChedHER to discuss how xHood is creating an inclusive parenting space online, what type of barriers LGBTQ+ families currently face, and what's in store for the Black Parent Pride Summit.

chedHER

How 'xHood' Is Fueling Support for Black Queer Families

and joining us now is Mia Cooley, founder of X Hood, thank you so much for joining us here on chat. Her, can you tell us more about X Hood and its community or so Ex Hood is tech enabled family planning for black and queer folks. We were we were founded in on Mother's Day of 2000 and 19 and like you said, we've grown to over 3000 members across 10 countries, there was really a void in the parenting space and when we looked for places that affirmed us as successful parents and as successful mothers, there was nothing that existed. So we came together so that we could love on each other and empower one another. And since then our mission has truly grown to making sure that our families can get the deep connections that they need um when they're looking to build village, you mentioned this void in the black queer parenting space that you were experiencing. Can you talk more about what it was exactly, maybe like one specific experience or moment of inspiration that really led you to propel you forward and create this community? Absolutely. So when you're having a baby or looking to expand your family, you immediately go to google right, and you're looking for for community spaces where you can ask the questions that you need to feel like, you know, you can be successful in this and really affirmed what I was finding is that in those community spaces that already existed, I was having to advocate for the validity of my family um and facing lots of homophobia transphobia and even racism, systemic racism within those spaces. So I felt I found myself defending my family more than getting the community that we needed wow and you sit at the intersection of both the L G B. T. Q plus community and also as a minority. I'm wondering what are some of the biggest barriers that you think? L. G. B. T. Q plus families, but also black queer families are facing right now. So I think across the board L G B. T. Q families are looking to get the parental rights that we deserve as we are actively parenting our Children and right now those right, those parental rights for non gestational carriers are not secure across the board and across our states. So that's the biggest barrier making sure that, you know, as we're appearing on birth certificates as we're actively parenting in the, in the lives of our Children that we are treated by the legal system as true parents. Um, and I think the second thing would be as we are looking to expand our families, there's a real void in um, in finding sperm, black sperm and egg donors. So as our sperm and cryo banks begin expanding and marketing, we would really ask that they target our black community so that our families can reflect our african american, black american and just um, afro descent characteristics, information about your resources coming at a really opportune time, especially because it is pride month and I want to highlight this explode, is hosting a black parent pride summit. What's going on with that event? What's going to happen? Absolutely. So the black parent pride summit is happening if you are in Atlanta Georgia or within driving distance on june 25th and 26th and our theme this year is it takes a village and what you will come out of that weekend with is the village that you need to um feel successful in your next chapter of parenting. So if you are trying to conceive or you are already a parent, you'll be there meeting with Fermin cryobank fertility specialist, um mental health support as well as um any other resources, legal resources that you need to make your family feel possible? We'll also spend time like I said, just loving and celebrating one another because this is the first event of its kinds. Um there's no other space that will bring all of these black queer parents and soon to be parents together. So we are going to take time to celebrate during the weekend as well. So I hope that you will join us on june 25th and 26 for our black parent pride summit. All right, June 25 and June 26 and as a community, I'm sure this really sticks out to you. Do you get feedback from some of your members that utilize the resources that you put out um and maybe some feedback that's really stuck with you and help to inspire you to continue moving forward with this. Absolutely. So when I, when I talked to our community members and they, and they tell me, hey, you know, I was feeling alone in this parenting journey. I really continue to be inspired and energized by that because building family and parenting was never meant to be done alone and some of us, even in partnered relationships, we're the first in our friendships to have babies were the first to try and expand and it can get really lonely and feel isolating. So when they tell me, hey, this feels like our families just got bigger. That keeps me energized and keeps us pushing when they tell me, hey, because of the resources that we found an exit, you know, exit, we're you know, gonna continue this summer with expanding our family because you know, you put us in connection with a resource that made us feel confident and that we could be successful in this or maybe you helped us to bridge the financial gap towards family building for black and queer folks. I really get energized and I hope that we can continue making those connections for people. Well, it sounds really gratifying that you're quite literally helping these families to come to fruition and explode currently has over as we mentioned 3000 members. So for those who are watching that want to get involved, what are your plans for growing the community and where can they learn more? You can learn, learn more. We're across all social media platforms at parent X hood. Um, you can also find us at www dot parent X hood dot com. We are actually launching this summer our fertility and family funds. So if you do not sit at the intersection of black and queer family building, but you want to support us, you can donate towards that fertility and family fund. It will be used to help bridge those financial gaps um that it takes to make our families possible because they are dedicated time money and resources. So we would appreciate all the love and support that you could provide. Thank you Mia Cooley, founder of X Good. Thank you so much for joining us.