Man, that’s got to be so hard. I can’t imagine people only being accepting of me if I performed the way they wanted me to within my identity. With severe restrictions none of them have to have. Of course you want a family after being raised with how important family is! Of course you want kids with the person you truly love, not someone else just because they’re the “correct” sex for you to build your family with. And of course it still hurts you when people unfollow for something like this. You’re a human (which I know a lot of people forget 🫠). I hope as you move forward and continue sharing, more and more people will be willing to listen. Either way, you already have a whole lot of us supporting you who are so excited for you both and your future family 🤍
Thank you for sharing such a tender part of your life, Charlie. When I began IVF, I objectively knew that some people would have negative opinions about it. But when you’re actually going through it, and those opinions you’re abstractly aware of become directed at you during such a vulnerable and tender and important part of your life, it can cut deeper than you’re prepared for. ❤️🩹 P.S. although we didn’t use a surrogate, if you have any questions about general IVF I would be happy to share whatever might help! We went with Conceptions Fertility in Provo.
I'm looking for the dis Like or broken heart Button!!!
I ABSOLUTELY FEEL A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT THIS REACTION TO YOUR news!!
I am sorry Charlie and Ryan, I SEE YOU AND FEEL I LNOW YOUR HEART!!
WE can never be liked 💯 by everyone for the decisions we make! YOU are the only ones that matter in knowing the desires of your heart!!!
Marriage, was hard enough for some Mormons to accept, but they stretched and tried and stayed. A baby where there is no FEMALE mother is just too difficult for alot it seems to stretch their rules !!
Again I'm sorry ! 🥰💔
When I decided to go to Romania to help /adopt 2 babies out of those orphanages in 1991 and leave my 6 children... That was also too much for alot of people to be on board with.. lots was said about me and KNOW ONE knew my heart or experience! Today those boys are 35 and 36 years old, thriving in the God Damn USA!! SAFE AND ALIVE !! 😉🤍💙🩷 I'M not ordinary NEITHER ARE YOU AND RYAN. 🌈CARRY ON!!!!! PS, IT TOOK 3 MONTHS AWAY FROM MY FAMILY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!! 8 KIDS AND 13 grands and 1 adorable great!!!! 💙
It takes a lot of bravery to go after the life you want even when others don't seem to approve and are willing to walk away from you just for being honest.
Charlie, I admire your authenticity and willingness to share your journey with us.
Yes, I support you! As many do!
We can pray for those that walked away that one day they might understand that you just wanted to be your true self.
Charlie, you and Ryan are amazing. The way you keep showing up, keep being vulnerable, keep putting your very personal journey out there for all of us to see. What you’re doing is so dang important. Being your authentic selves, walking this spiritual journey of building your family, loving each other, all of that’s important. And, what’s most amazing and important, even essential, is that you’re letting us see it. Dude. I can’t even get a few dislikes or criticisms on a joke I post on social media without falling apart. And it’s not even a joke that I wrote! Thank you. Thank you for being willing to share. Thank you for your gentle, graceful responses when people are awful to you, when it would be so much easier to bite back. You have a powerful voice. And I am so amazed by your constant showing that you know how to wield that power humbly, righteously, and with poise. You’re both going to be such incredible dads!!
As someone who is adopted, thank you for articulating the reasons adoption might be further complex in this specific situation - even more so I just appreciate someone articulating the realities of adoption not being that simple because I feel like there is too much wide eyed optimism about what adoption is like for the child (even when they go to amazing parents). You guys will be amazing parents, however you get there.
Maybe they feel like me and figured well I can't afford to be included in the cool friends group because I don't have extra money to pay my way in so the door just got slammed in my face and they all just quit(unfollowed). Thats what I feel. You are splitting the group and the ones that can't pay aren't good enough to hear the rest of the story. I was going to hit unfollow too but have been waiting to see if you would open the door to those of us who cant pay.
I’m sorry you’ve felt excluded! That genuinely isn’t the intention.
The reality is that creating this kind of content takes a huge amount of time, emotional energy, writing, editing, filming, organizing, and sharing. Writing is also my profession, and especially as Ryan and I take on the very real financial responsibilities of building a family, I have to make sure the work I’m putting out is sustainable and compensated in some way.
So yes, there will be some paid elements every few posts, but a large portion of what I share will still remain completely free and open because I do want people to be able to follow along and feel part of the journey. This isn’t about creating a “cool kids group.” It’s just trying to find a balanced way to keep creating deeply and consistently while also supporting our future family. 🫶
This is so painful to hear about this, I lost 47 followers after a political post and just THAT hurt my feelings. One of the things I have always admired about you is that every major life decision you have made has been guided by personal revelation. Wanting a family is not just a noble goal, it is a basic human right. There is so much hatred in the world. I used to work for a foster care non profit founded by two gay dads. We got many comments that it would better for the children to grow up in an orphanage than to be "subjected to a sinful lifestyle." It has been said so many times that it now seems like a platitude but "love is love" -- especially when it applies to children. Much love to you both.
Charlie and Ryan hold on and know that the ones that stay, love you and support you so much. What you’re doing is so beautiful and such a great example of being your true self while also believing and staying faithful. I, personally, am so excited to see your family grow, and the change you are helping to make with the growth of acceptance in the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. I’m so excited to see multiple same sex couples in every ward. Embraced, seen, accepted, loved, and supported for the love and beauty they have for each other. Your story is inspiring!!!💝💝💝
I’m not going anywhere!!! Isn’t it better to be surrounded by those who truly care about you and Ryan? Let the sifting continue! You deserve only the most positive people in your corner! I’m sorry this has been disappointing for you! ❤️
Thank you for sharing it all – – the highs, the lows, the questions without answers. Your journey is sacred, and I feel privileged that you are letting me be a part of it.
I agree with your assessment that people need to sit in discomfort to better show charity- mourn with those who mourn, celebrate success, etc. What does give me pause, and possibly is the same for some of the 3000 is the issue of surrogacy itself. I am not 100% sure where I will land on this issue, but for now, for anyone, it doesn’t feel like a choice we should make. Having said that, there are lots of choices people make that I may not agree with, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to sit with them. I can still cheer people on. Wishing you and Ryan the best in your journey, and I’m staying because of the joy I feel when I participate in your sharing. Stay close to God and each other.
Man, that’s got to be so hard. I can’t imagine people only being accepting of me if I performed the way they wanted me to within my identity. With severe restrictions none of them have to have. Of course you want a family after being raised with how important family is! Of course you want kids with the person you truly love, not someone else just because they’re the “correct” sex for you to build your family with. And of course it still hurts you when people unfollow for something like this. You’re a human (which I know a lot of people forget 🫠). I hope as you move forward and continue sharing, more and more people will be willing to listen. Either way, you already have a whole lot of us supporting you who are so excited for you both and your future family 🤍
Thank you for sharing such a tender part of your life, Charlie. When I began IVF, I objectively knew that some people would have negative opinions about it. But when you’re actually going through it, and those opinions you’re abstractly aware of become directed at you during such a vulnerable and tender and important part of your life, it can cut deeper than you’re prepared for. ❤️🩹 P.S. although we didn’t use a surrogate, if you have any questions about general IVF I would be happy to share whatever might help! We went with Conceptions Fertility in Provo.
I'm looking for the dis Like or broken heart Button!!!
I ABSOLUTELY FEEL A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT THIS REACTION TO YOUR news!!
I am sorry Charlie and Ryan, I SEE YOU AND FEEL I LNOW YOUR HEART!!
WE can never be liked 💯 by everyone for the decisions we make! YOU are the only ones that matter in knowing the desires of your heart!!!
Marriage, was hard enough for some Mormons to accept, but they stretched and tried and stayed. A baby where there is no FEMALE mother is just too difficult for alot it seems to stretch their rules !!
Again I'm sorry ! 🥰💔
When I decided to go to Romania to help /adopt 2 babies out of those orphanages in 1991 and leave my 6 children... That was also too much for alot of people to be on board with.. lots was said about me and KNOW ONE knew my heart or experience! Today those boys are 35 and 36 years old, thriving in the God Damn USA!! SAFE AND ALIVE !! 😉🤍💙🩷 I'M not ordinary NEITHER ARE YOU AND RYAN. 🌈CARRY ON!!!!! PS, IT TOOK 3 MONTHS AWAY FROM MY FAMILY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!! 8 KIDS AND 13 grands and 1 adorable great!!!! 💙
I am looking forward to following your journey! You will make wonderful parents.
It takes a lot of bravery to go after the life you want even when others don't seem to approve and are willing to walk away from you just for being honest.
Charlie, I admire your authenticity and willingness to share your journey with us.
Yes, I support you! As many do!
We can pray for those that walked away that one day they might understand that you just wanted to be your true self.
Charlie, you and Ryan are amazing. The way you keep showing up, keep being vulnerable, keep putting your very personal journey out there for all of us to see. What you’re doing is so dang important. Being your authentic selves, walking this spiritual journey of building your family, loving each other, all of that’s important. And, what’s most amazing and important, even essential, is that you’re letting us see it. Dude. I can’t even get a few dislikes or criticisms on a joke I post on social media without falling apart. And it’s not even a joke that I wrote! Thank you. Thank you for being willing to share. Thank you for your gentle, graceful responses when people are awful to you, when it would be so much easier to bite back. You have a powerful voice. And I am so amazed by your constant showing that you know how to wield that power humbly, righteously, and with poise. You’re both going to be such incredible dads!!
The number of people who left is nowhere near as important as the number who stayed.
As someone who is adopted, thank you for articulating the reasons adoption might be further complex in this specific situation - even more so I just appreciate someone articulating the realities of adoption not being that simple because I feel like there is too much wide eyed optimism about what adoption is like for the child (even when they go to amazing parents). You guys will be amazing parents, however you get there.
Supporting you in your journey to parenthood ❤️✨❤️ you’re going to be an amazing parent ❤️🙏🏻❤️
Maybe they feel like me and figured well I can't afford to be included in the cool friends group because I don't have extra money to pay my way in so the door just got slammed in my face and they all just quit(unfollowed). Thats what I feel. You are splitting the group and the ones that can't pay aren't good enough to hear the rest of the story. I was going to hit unfollow too but have been waiting to see if you would open the door to those of us who cant pay.
I’m sorry you’ve felt excluded! That genuinely isn’t the intention.
The reality is that creating this kind of content takes a huge amount of time, emotional energy, writing, editing, filming, organizing, and sharing. Writing is also my profession, and especially as Ryan and I take on the very real financial responsibilities of building a family, I have to make sure the work I’m putting out is sustainable and compensated in some way.
So yes, there will be some paid elements every few posts, but a large portion of what I share will still remain completely free and open because I do want people to be able to follow along and feel part of the journey. This isn’t about creating a “cool kids group.” It’s just trying to find a balanced way to keep creating deeply and consistently while also supporting our future family. 🫶
This is so painful to hear about this, I lost 47 followers after a political post and just THAT hurt my feelings. One of the things I have always admired about you is that every major life decision you have made has been guided by personal revelation. Wanting a family is not just a noble goal, it is a basic human right. There is so much hatred in the world. I used to work for a foster care non profit founded by two gay dads. We got many comments that it would better for the children to grow up in an orphanage than to be "subjected to a sinful lifestyle." It has been said so many times that it now seems like a platitude but "love is love" -- especially when it applies to children. Much love to you both.
Charlie and Ryan hold on and know that the ones that stay, love you and support you so much. What you’re doing is so beautiful and such a great example of being your true self while also believing and staying faithful. I, personally, am so excited to see your family grow, and the change you are helping to make with the growth of acceptance in the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. I’m so excited to see multiple same sex couples in every ward. Embraced, seen, accepted, loved, and supported for the love and beauty they have for each other. Your story is inspiring!!!💝💝💝
I’m not going anywhere!!! Isn’t it better to be surrounded by those who truly care about you and Ryan? Let the sifting continue! You deserve only the most positive people in your corner! I’m sorry this has been disappointing for you! ❤️
Thank you for sharing it all – – the highs, the lows, the questions without answers. Your journey is sacred, and I feel privileged that you are letting me be a part of it.
I agree with your assessment that people need to sit in discomfort to better show charity- mourn with those who mourn, celebrate success, etc. What does give me pause, and possibly is the same for some of the 3000 is the issue of surrogacy itself. I am not 100% sure where I will land on this issue, but for now, for anyone, it doesn’t feel like a choice we should make. Having said that, there are lots of choices people make that I may not agree with, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to sit with them. I can still cheer people on. Wishing you and Ryan the best in your journey, and I’m staying because of the joy I feel when I participate in your sharing. Stay close to God and each other.
Instagram did a massive purging of old/bot accounts within the last 24 hours or so. Many are reporting reduction in follower count.