It Takes a Village: Grief, Gay Fatherhood & Building Family From the Ruins
In this episode, Jon and Bryan welcome José Rolón (@NYCGayDad), a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community and a single father of three. José shares his inspiring journey from being a high-end wedding planner to navigating the challenges of raising his children after the loss of his husband. He discusses the emotional complexities of surrogacy, the decision to continue his family after his husband's passing, and the importance of community support in his parenting journey. José emphasizes the significance of vulnerability and emotional openness in fatherhood, contrasting his experiences with traditional machismo upbringing.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OutLoudAndLaughing?sub_confirmation=1
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to José Rolón
02:30 The Journey of Surrogacy and Loss
06:52 Building a Support System
10:11 Unlearning Machismo in Parenting
15:03 Open Communication with Kids
18:08 Balancing Wedding Planning and Parenting
20:19 The Importance of Asking for Help
23:24 Fun This or That Round
27:10 Where to Find José Rolón
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Visit us at www.OutLoudAndLaughing.com
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7obVHRF8knOr0WUMOZLJnM
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvTk63DP29cMR3QjT_xkkHygIX2MZi1c9
LGBTQ+, single father, surrogacy, emotional vulnerability, parenting, community support, resilience, family, wedding planning, machismo