Pride Month and Parenthood: How CRM Has Been Supporting LGBTQ+ Families in Orlando for Over 40 Years

Pride Month is a time to celebrate community, visibility, and the families that love builds — in all their forms. At the Center for Reproductive Medicine, this month carries a special resonance. For more than four decades, CRM has been part of some of the most significant moments in Orlando-area families' lives, including helping countless LGBTQ+ individuals and couples welcome the children they had dreamed of. 

This Pride Month, we want to reflect on that history, share what inclusive care looks like in practice at CRM, and offer a window into what LGBTQ+ patients can expect when they walk through our doors today. 

A Legacy of Firsts in Central Florida 

The Center for Reproductive Medicine opened in 1985 — making it one of the oldest fertility clinics in the state of Florida. CRM's physicians helped welcome the first IVF baby in Central Florida, a milestone that speaks to the clinic's long commitment to advancing reproductive medicine. 

Over the decades, the landscape of family building has changed enormously — and CRM has evolved alongside it, expanding services, adding locations, and deepening our commitment to caring for all patients, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Today, more than 6,000 babies have been born with CRM's help, and that number includes families across every orientation and identity. 

What Inclusive Care Looks Like at CRM 

We believe inclusive care is not a marketing statement — it’s something that is displayed in every patient interaction, every intake form, and every treatment plan. At CRM, that commitment shows up in several concrete ways: 

• Intake processes designed to reflect all family structures, not just the traditional heterosexual couple model 

• Physicians and staff trained in gender-affirming language and LGBTQ+-inclusive communication 

• A full suite of treatment options relevant to LGBTQ+ patients, including donor sperm IUI, IVF, reciprocal IVF, egg donation, and gestational surrogacy coordination 

• Fertility preservation services — including egg and sperm freezing — for transgender and non-binary individuals navigating gender-affirming care 

• Telemedicine consultation options, making it easier for LGBTQ+ patients in areas with fewer affirming providers to access CRM's care 

Our goal is simple: when you come to CRM, you should feel like you belong here, because you do. 

Serving the Whole Orlando Community 

Orlando is one of Florida's most diverse and vibrant cities, with a large and thriving LGBTQ+ community. CRM is proud to serve patients from across Central Florida and beyond — including communities in Winter Park, Celebration, Lake Nona, Kissimmee, Sanford. 

Our three clinics in Winter Park, Celebration, and the recently opened Lake Nona facility are designed to make care more accessible, wherever you are in the region. And for patients coming from farther away, telemedicine consultations allow you to connect with our specialists without the added burden of travel. 

The Emotional Side of LGBTQ+ Family Building 

We know that the path to parenthood is not only a medical journey — it is an emotional one. LGBTQ+ patients often come to us after navigating complicated feelings about whether parenthood is truly possible for them, whether they will be welcomed and understood in a clinical setting, and how to manage the uncertainty that comes with any fertility process. 

CRM is committed to supporting the whole person, not just the clinical side of the equation. Our team approaches every patient relationship with empathy and patience, and we take seriously the emotional weight of this chapter of your life. We also recognize that for LGBTQ+ patients in particular, the experience of being seen and affirmed — not just tolerated — can make an enormous difference. 

Looking Ahead: A Future of Growing Families 

As we celebrate Pride Month, we are proud of the families CRM has helped build over more than four decades and we are energized by the families we have yet to meet. The science of reproductive medicine continues to advance, and CRM remains committed to staying at the forefront of that progress while keeping compassionate, inclusive care at the center of everything we do. 

To the LGBTQ+ individuals and couples considering parenthood: your desire to build a family is valid, your path is possible, and CRM is here to walk it with you. 

Meet Our Team 

CRM's five board-certified fertility specialists — including five recognized as Castle Connolly Top Doctors in 2026 — bring over 100 years of combined experience to every patient they serve. Whether you are just beginning to explore your options or ready to start treatment, our team is here to provide expert, affirming care at every step. 

This Pride Month, take the first step toward your family. Schedule a consultation in Winter Park, Celebration, and Lake Nona. Telemedicine is also available.