CWHC’s Alternative Insemination (AI) Program was the first in the midwest specifically designed to provide a path to pregnancy for folx who didn’t have access to sperm. In this episode, Mirror and a Flashlight explores the past and present of this groundbreaking program. First, we talk to Terri Kapsalis and Sandy McNabb, two early members of the program, about how CWHC shifted the landscape of parenthood for queer people seeking pregnancies. Then, we’ll meet Noshaba Bhatti, the current AI Program Coordinator, who shares what access and visibility look like today.
Learn more about Chicago Women’s Health Center and this podcast on our website at chicagowomenshealthcenter.org. For information on our Alternative Insemination Program Introduction workshops, visit our registration page here.
Mirror and a Flashlight is made possible by our community of support. Our special thanks toCorbett Vs Dempsey, Women Unite!, Early to Bed, Women & Children First Bookstore, Laura McAlpine Consulting for Growth, and Mats Gustafsson and Catalytic Sound.
This podcast was produced by Ariel Mejia and edited by A.J. Barks, Sarah Rebecca Gaglio, and Terri Kapsalis, with editorial support from Lisa Schergen.
Thank you to Sandy McNabb, Noshaba Bhatti, and Terri Kapsalis for participating in these conversations.
Make our work possible with a donation here.
For more information on some of the topics discussed in this episode, we recommend the following resources*:
Resources referenced in this episode:
Books on Birth, Birthing Justice, and History of Grand (Granny) Lay Midwives:
Books on fertility awareness, understanding menstrual cycles, and reproductive health:
Books for Queer, Lesbian, and Single people attempting pregnancy or already parenting:
Films about Birth:
*Some of these resources can be difficult to locate. We recommend checking with your local public library for titles that might be hard to find .