June is Pride Month—a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirm commitments to equity and inclusion. For employers, it’s also a time to reflect on whether their health benefits truly support every employee, including those pursuing parenthood through paths like surrogacy, adoption, donor conception and fertility treatments.
At ARC Fertility, we believe everyone deserves the chance to grow their family—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship status. This Pride Month, we’re calling on employers to take meaningful action by offering inclusive, accessible and affirming family-forming benefits.
Parenthood Doesn’t Look One Way
While reproductive care is often discussed in terms of heterosexual couples and traditional IVF, the reality is far more diverse. LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may pursue parenthood through a range of paths, including:
- Reciprocal IVF (where one partner provides eggs and the other carries the pregnancy)
- Gestational surrogacy
- Sperm or egg donation
- Fertility preservation prior to gender-affirming treatments
- Adoption or fostering
These journeys come with unique emotional, financial and logistical considerations—and many standard employer benefit plans don’t cover them adequately, if at all.
A commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion means recognizing that parenthood isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s time to ensure benefits reflect that reality.
The Equity Gap in Family-Forming Benefits
Despite progress, many LGBTQ+ employees still face significant barriers when it comes to accessing reproductive care:
- Insurance exclusions that require proof of “infertility” based on heterosexual guidelines
- High out-of-pocket costs for donor sperm, egg donor retrieval, or surrogacy
- Lack of professional navigators and support people who understand and affirm LGBTQ+ family-building paths
These barriers don’t just create inequity—they send a message that LGBTQ+ families are less valid or less supported. And in a competitive talent market, that’s a message no employer can afford to send.
Offering inclusive family-forming benefits is one of the most powerful ways to support LGBTQ+ employees in both their professional lives and their personal journeys.
How Inclusive Benefits Drive Business Impact
Providing LGBTQ+-affirming reproductive benefits isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s also a smart investment in workforce well-being and business success. Inclusive benefits can help you:
- Attract and retain top talent: 77% of LGBTQ+ workers say inclusive benefits impact their decision to accept a job.
- Boost engagement and morale: Employees who feel seen and supported are more motivated and committed.
- Promote inclusion and equity: Family-forming benefits are a tangible way to walk the talk on access to inclusive and equitable care.
- Support mental health: Navigating fertility and family-building is challenging—especially for LGBTQ+ employees who face systemic barriers. Affirming benefits help reduce stress and foster psychological safety.
What Inclusive Family-Forming Benefits Look Like
True inclusiveness goes beyond simply offering IVF. At ARC Fertility, we help employers build benefit programs that support all family structures and all paths to parenthood. That means:
- No PEPM (per employee per month) fees – You only pay when services are used
- Coverage that includes donor sperm, donor eggs and surrogacy support
- Access to over 450 board-certified fertility specialists nationwide
- Care Navigation by experts who understand LGBTQ+ family-building journeys
- Fertility preservation for transgender and nonbinary individuals
We also offer education resources, virtual tools and emotional support designed to meet people where they are—whether they’re exploring their options, in active treatment, or just starting to plan.
Partnering for a More Inclusive Future
ARC Fertility is proud to partner with employers who want to be part of the solution. We believe that creating inclusive workplaces means supporting employees in every stage of life—including when they’re growing their families. We make it easy for employers to implement high-impact solutions that reflect the values of equity, care and compassion.
This Pride Month, we encourage every employer to ask:
- Do our benefits support all family-forming paths?
- Are we removing barriers—or reinforcing them?
- Are we making LGBTQ+ employees feel valued and supported?
If the answer isn’t a confident yes, it’s time to re-evaluate and take action.
Let’s Build a Future Where Every Family Is Supported
Love makes a family—but access makes it possible. By offering inclusive family-forming benefits, employers can help ensure that every employee has the opportunity to grow their family with dignity and support.
This Pride Month let’s celebrate by committing to real change—not just in words, but in benefits that affirm, empower and include.
Contact ARC Fertility to learn how you can build inclusive family-forming benefits that reflect the values of Pride—all year long.