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Through film and conversation, rePROFilm advocates for reproductive health, justice and bodily autonomy. We lift intersectional issues, using the power of storytelling as a catalyst for knowledge, intention and action.

The rePROFilm Periodical – featuring a new film and podcast each month – is generously underwritten and is FREE and available to anyone.

VOLUME 17, PART 2:

IN VITRO VERITAS

This week, we’re continuing our celebration of queer families.

We’re halfway through Pride month, and it feels like we’ve spent enough time debating how corporations co-opt queer celebrations to market their products. Instead, why not direct our attention to work made by queer people?

That’s what we’re doing in Vol. 17 of the rePROFilm Periodical, which features the documentary series “Who Gets to Parent?” When Timmia and Pere DeRoy decided to use assisted reproductive technology to start their family, they didn’t know any queer couples who had been through the same process. The grad students brought both their personal story and their research chops to the project.

The result is both useful and moving, an argument for choice-based parenting, no matter who you are.

XO,
The rePROFilm Team

Episodes 2 & 4 from “Who Gets to Parent?”

Directed by Timmia Hearn DeRoy (23 minutes total)

In their docuseries, Timmia and Pere DeRoy tell the story of their IVF journey and the additional challenges they faced as a queer, multiracial couple.

Anyone who has gone through the IVF process could likely relate to Timmia and Pere’s struggle to raise the money necessary for even one cycle of IVF.

For those not familiar with the process, our resident medical expert Dr. Julia has reflected on the episodes below and shared some cold, hard facts.

Real Talk:

  • According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, a single cycle of IVF ranges in cost from $12,000-25,000.
  • A recent study at a fertility clinic tracked all out-of-pocket expenses over a period of 18 months, including the IVF, medications, and necessary monitoring. The average couple spent $19,234.
  • Currently, approximately 40% of employers provide some type of fertility benefit. Some insurance programs limit the number of cycles covered (often to three cycles), some do not cover required medications (which can cost thousands), and others place a lifetime cap on coverage. The cap could be as low as $15,000, which may not fully cover one cycle.
  • Success rates are typically in the range of 25-30% per cycle.
  • Most patients undergo two to three cycles.
What do you think? Questions for reflection from Dr. Julia:
  • How did you experience Pere’s description of her initial reluctance to use her eggs for the IVF process? Did her concerns about bringing a child of color into the world resonate with you?
  •  Do you think heterosexual couples experience the same questioning of their intent to become parents?
REFLECT

THE RAINBOW CONNECTION

Forget earth tones and shades of gray — boring colors are for the other 11 months of the year!

In honor of Gilbert Baker, the Kansas-born artist who designed the first Pride flag, here’s our ROY-G-BIV-inspired soundtrack, from “Red” to “Green Lights,” to “Purple Rain” — a full spectrum of songs.

With special guests Timmia & Pere DeRoy

The “Who Gets to Parent?” creators join Asha Dahya on the rePROFilm Periodical Podcast to discuss their parenthood story and how they combined storytelling and research to create their documentary series. They also discuss the life-changing power of community building, the blessing of a family ally, and what it’s like to be queer parents who live in Kansas. A truly moving and inspiring conversation — one of our favorites. 

TUNE IN

“We started pouring so much more love into each other and patience into each other because we realized how alone we were on this journey.” — Pere DeRoy

40 years ago, an author interviewed the kids of queer parents. His new book explores what they have to say now.

A timely new book sheds light on the experience of growing up in queer families. “‘A Secret I Can’t Tell’ is not just a rare history about youth raised by queer parents in the 1980s; it is an eerily timely arrival as anti-LGBTQ+ laws are sending many queer families back into the closet,” writes Kate Sosin.

(19th News)

Lesbian couples using assisted reproductive technology have better outcomes

This exhaustive list of reproductive health resources includes book and podcast recs along with information about lactation support, childbirth and parenting education, and fertility. Many of the resources are virtual, but there’s also info about in-person services for LA-area folks.

(Medical Xpress)

Kids of queer parents are alright, sometimes even better

“Children of same-sex couples do just as well in life as those with opposite-sex parents — and in some cases, better, according to a new study” by Chinese and American researchers, whose findings suggest that children of “sexual minority” couples may have advantages, including better relationships with their parents.

(The Advocate)

Transgender and non-binary reproductive health care resources

This exhaustive list of reproductive health resources includes book and podcast recs along with information about lactation support, childbirth and parenting education, and fertility. Many of the resources are virtual, but there’s also info about in-person services for LA-area folks.

(Rethinking Reproductive Health)

“PLAN C” in person: Wichita & Los Angeles

Directed by Tracy Droz-Tragos | USA | 2023 | 99m.

Wednesday, June 21, 6:30pm, Wichita Art Museum (Wichita, KS)
Saturday, June 24, 3:00pm, Vidiots (Los Angeles, CA), Filmmakers in Attendance

To mark one year since the Supreme Court overturned Dobbs v. Jackson, effectively removing American’s constitutional right to abortion, Trust Women and rePROFilm present two special screenings of the documentary PLAN C (Sundance, SXSW 2023).

Shot over the past four years by award-winning filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos, PLAN C is a documentary capturing the work of Plan C (the abortion pill access campaign of the same name) as well as the work of many activists and providers fighting to improve access to abortion pills in the face of crumbling reproductive rights & access across the U.S.

(Learn More & Register Here)

Virtual event: The path to reproductive freedom a year after Dobbs

Join us for a virtual event on June 21 that will spotlight the short film “Under G-d” and bring filmmakers, advocates, and legal scholars together to discuss the ramifications of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and where we go from here.

(Watch the trailer & RSVP.)

Family Equality

Founded in 1979 at the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, Family Equality has spent more than 40 years ensuring that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing equality for the LGBTQ+ community. Check out their directory of LGBTQ family groups to find support near you.

TAKE ACTION
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity at the University of Kansas

advocates for livability, fosters wellness, critically educates, and creates connections with and for queer and trans students, faculty, and staff alongside the broader KU community. 

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“So, That Happened”

rePROFilm programmer Neha Aziz is raising money to make a short film. She quickly met her goal of $15K, but you can still kick a few dollars her way. 

The film  follows Sheila and Imran who haven’t seen each other since college, but when Imran moves back to Austin, an opportunity arises for the pair to get acquainted once more. 

And look for “So, That Happened” on the 2024 film festival circuit!

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OUR GENEROUS UNDERWRITERS

Thank you to our underwriters which enable us to bring you the rePRO Periodical for free, as well as compensate all of our storytellers and contributors. Learn how you can support this public media initiative.

rePROFilm endeavors to make our programming a safe, accessible and welcome place for anyone who wants to participate. We acknowledge that we have much to learn about creating this space, and welcome and and all feedback that can make us better aware and able to support all minds and bodies.
We are committed to screening films in accessible venues, and also understand that meeting ADA standards for accessibility does not actually mean a venue is actually accommodating for everyone. As best we can, we will offer a complimentary companion ticket to our film screenings as requested. For our virtual screenings, we ask all filmmaking teams to provide closed captioning, audio descriptions or open captions whenever possible. For any questions, please contact us at 323-810-6909 or help@reprofilm.org. We are here to do our best to make our programming as inclusive as possible.

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