Susan Swan never thought that she wanted children, until a plane ride with a friend who was in the middle of an alternative insemination process. This was just at the beginning of the "Gayby Boom" -- a term coined by a 1990 article in Time Magazine about a new generation of gay parents.

Susan used the same clinic as her friend and planned for a home birth with her partner Carol Ann by her side. And a story, or sense of wonder, about who the sperm donor was never at the forefront of life they had together as a tight-knit family of three. However, as a kid (and an only child) Cara wondered what it would be like to have siblings, after getting a small taste from her friends and the the supportive community her moms had built in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

This is the third chapter of a big story that takes up most of Rashomon Season 2. You will hear multiple families telling every side of multiple stories, all having to do with the early days of sperm banks and how it effected the lives of the families that used them. From Season 2, Episode 2 onward, it is important to listen to them in order to get the full story. Before you listen to this one, listen to Sharon and Sammy and Emily, Cathy and Nancy.

Rashomon is produced and hosted by Hillary Rea

Thank you to Cara Swan, Susan Swan, and Carol Ann Dalto.

Music in this episode is by Ben Chace and Paul Defiglia

Podcast artwork is by Thom Lessner

Theme music is by Ryan Culinane courtesy of the Free Music Archive

Rashomon is an independent podcast. Become a supporting member of this podcast over on Patreon: https://patreon.com/rashomonpod

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