I originally wanted to produce the definitive story on gay parenthood in North America, including issues like:

• Adoption, laws and realities
• Surrogacy services dedicated to gay men
• The world's only gay sperm bank
• History of lesbians, gay men and same-sex couples' opportunities for parenthood.
• Laws, prejudices past and present about gay parents.

Etc. etc. etc... and I shot a lot of the above.

In the end though, I found that I'd bitten off more than I could chew, in that, considering the relatively short format of our stories, I could not possibly do justice to this important topic. So, I decided to divide and conquer (could be the motto of the sperm bank I guess) and focus, this time, on the personal aspects of the story, that being the children of gay and lesbian families.

Among others, I shot with a wonderful woman, Felicia Park-Rogers, who heads COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) in San Francisco and heard first-hand what it's like to be the victim of homophobia, second-hand. Her father was gay, and her words, shaped who she ultimately became. I was heartened, touched and amazed that someone could turn such a negative, hurtful experience of ostracization into such an incredible positive, that being her lifelong dedication to helping children who suffer stigmatization because one or both of their parents are gay.

I think what she said is correct, that these children are given the gift of being unique, of being raised in families that are generally more accepting of others' differences, in fact celebrate them and ultimately rise to the challenge.

We, the children of "straight parents," could learn something from people like Felicia.

Brad Brough
Producer/Director, Sextv