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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Babies Born to HIV-Positive Growing Generations Surrogacy Clients to Double in 2010

Obama Administration's Lifting of Restrictions on Visas for HIV-Positive Foreigners Opens Program to International Clients
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest surrogacy agency announced today that the number of babies born to HIV-positive clients is expected to more than double in 2010 as its program for HIV-positive men using their own sperm to create embryos continues to expand in the U.S. and abroad. In 2009, Growing Generations had 5 babies born to HIV-positive parents working with surrogates and in 2010 more than 10 babies are expected.
"It is so amazing for us to see these babies being born to loving, healthy parents who have dreamed of this opportunity for years," said Growing Generations CEO Stuart Miller. "As the first agency to create a program specifically for clients with HIV, our expertise and guidance of this process is unparalleled."

Participants in Growing Generations' HIV program go through the same process as other clients with the addition of an extensive health screening and preparation process for the sperm which virtually eliminates any risk of exposure to the surrogate or embryo. Many men with HIV show no material trace of the virus in their semen. The sperm preparation process has been used for more than a decade in non-surrogacy related pregnancies and, as is the case with all of Growing Generations surrogates and babies, no one has become infected with HIV.
The program is now available not only to citizens of the U.S. but to international clients as well due to the Obama administration's lifting of the restriction on visas for HIV-positive foreigners. In January of this year, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed HIV infection from the list of diseases that prevent non-U.S. citizens from entering the country.
"We are extremely pleased that the Obama administration has removed a restriction that should have been removed a long time ago," added Miller. "Our company has always been at the forefront of fighting against discrimination and our ability to now serve clients with HIV from around the world is something we are very proud of. We anticipate that as people with HIV learn of this opportunity, we will continue to see more of them choose surrogacy as their family building option."

To learn more about Growing Generations, please visit http://www.growinggenerations.com/.

Since 1996, Growing Generations has been a company passionately dedicated to the vision of creating life and, in the process, changing the world. Founded by gay and lesbian parents, our mission is simple -- to build families of choice for communities around the globe through surrogacy, egg donation, and sperm donation.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama

I watched them write the speeches, I heard them flesh out the words. I relived every moment of that magnanimous night–that time we as Americans made our voices heard. Then they flashed a photo of the 44th President of the United States: Barack Obama.


You must see, "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama." I will remind you of why you vote. I got my copy from Netflix–no late fees involved–however, I will purchase a copy to have permanently.

I never want to forget the campaign. I cried and relived every moment. We have to remember as a nation, as a supporter, as voters, who we voted for and why. Don't believe the spin on the nightly news. It is not always true.

I entered the campaign after the Iowa win. Up until that point, I thought Barack Obama would follow in the footsteps of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and rack up some votes and yet again prove a point but not win the presidency. I didn't know Barack Obama then and was prepared to vote for Hillary Clinton. At best, I would have voted for John Edwards. I just didn't know any better and that is so sad. Then, during my nightly routine, I saw him during the Iowa Caucus victory speech and then I believed.

I saw that he thought as I thought, he believed as I believed. He had my voice and he has carried it to the highest seat in our nation. He was me and so I voted for myself. I never in my life thought I would hear someone echo my thoughts about my country and society the way our president did as he campaigned. I was astonished but I knew if I voted for Barack, then I would be voting for myself. This DVD helped me relive all of that. Don't miss it! Get it today.
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Telegraph Barack Obama

Video - CNNMoney.com

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