Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita have been a couple of iconic gay dads since welcoming their first baby in 2020. In 2022, two-year-old Beckett Ferguson-Mikita got a new baby brother! They shared the exciting news in an adorable Instagram post on November 16: "we ran off to welcome our newest little one, Sullivan Louis Ferguson-Mikita. A special thanks to @drshahinghadir for helping us grow our family & our incredible surrogate and all of the nurses and doctors. We are overjoyed to be a family of four."

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Andy Cohen -

Andy Cohen was the first openly gay host of an American late-night talk show, and is now a single father of two. The 'Watch What Happens Live' host welcomed his second baby Lucy Eve Cohen on April 29, 2022, and shared a sweet post on Instagram the next day at the hospital that read, "Greetings from Cloud 9 #ILoveLucy." He added, "Thank you to my rock star surrogate (ALL surrogates are rockstars, by the way) and everyone who helped make this miracle happen. I'm so happy." Cohen is also father to his son, Benjamin Allen, whom he also welcomed via surrogate in 2019. At the time, he told People magazine that he "didn't want to wait" any longer to become a father, even if it meant doing it as a single parent. "I didn't want to wait. To me it would have to be a very special person to say, 'Let's do this together.' And I would love that, and that person could be having coffee down the street at this moment and I'll meet him soon." He added that he "always knew [he] wanted a family," but "as a gay man, I never thought it was in the cards for me."

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Anderson Cooper -

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper welcomed his second baby, a boy named Sebastian, via surrogate in February 2022. Cooper is already co-parenting his first child, one-year-old Wyatt, with his former partner Benjamin Maisani. They have chosen to raise this second child together too, and his full name is Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. Cooper shared the good news on CNN along with a photo of his eldest son: "Well, this is Wyatt today. He's nearly 22 months old and he is sweet and funny and the greatest joy in my life. If he looks particularly happy in this picture, it's because he now has a baby brother. His name is Sebastian and I would like you to meet him."

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Anderson Cooper -

Anderson Cooper was in a long-term relationship with Benjamin Maisani until 2018, but the pair ended things on good terms.

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Anderson Cooper -

Cooper welcomed his first child, Wyatt Morgan, by surrogate in May of 2020. He decided to co-parent baby Wyatt with Maisani so as to have as many loving parental figures as possible for his son. Now that they've welcomed their second child, Maisani is becoming a legal adoptive parent to both children.

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Pete and Chasten Buttigieg -

Former presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten revealed that they became dads in August 2022. Buttigieg tweeted, "For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family. We’re overjoyed to share that we’ve become parents! The process isn’t done yet and we’re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can’t wait to share more soon." The pair had previously opened up to The Washington Post in July about their year-long adoption process, with many ups and downs. "It's a really weird cycle of anger and frustration and hope," said Chasten, citing a woman who'd changed her mind about putting her child up for adoption. "You think it's finally happening and you get so excited, and then it's gone." At least the child will know their parents tried hard for them.

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Ryan Murphy and David Miller -

Ryan Murphy and his husband, David Miller, welcomed their third child, a baby boy named Griffin, in 2020. The couple also have two other sons, Logan and Ford.

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Melissa Etheridge -

Melissa Etheridge and her former partner Julie Cypher (pictured) had two children during their relationship, Beckett and Bailey. Etheridge later had twins with her partner Tammy Lynn Michaels (since divorced), making her a mother of four.

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Melissa Etheridge -

Tragically, she recently lost her son Beckett to opioid addiction at the age of 21.

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Elton John and David Furnish -

Elton John has been with his husband David Furnish for decades. The pair were one of the first couples to form a civil partnership when it became legal in the UK.

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Elton John and David Furnish -

They had both of their children with the same surrogate. Their adorable son Zachary was born in 2010 and Elijah in 2013.

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Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka -

Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka started dating back in 2004 and were married in 2014.

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Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka -

They had their fraternal twins Gideon Scott and Harper Grace with a surrogate in 2010. They say that they are each the biological father of one of the twins, but they don't want to find out which!

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Jodie Foster -

Jodie Foster married photographer and actress Alexandra Hedison in 2014.

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Jodie Foster -

The pair are raising Foster's two sons, Charles and Kit, whom Foster had with her ex-partner Cydney Bernard.

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Matt Bomer and Simon Halls - Actor Matt Bomer, best known for his roles in 'White Collar' and 'The Sinner,' married his husband Simon Halls in 2011.

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Matt Bomer and Simon Halls -

The pair now have three boys together: Kit, Henry, and Walker.

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Jillian Michaels -

Fitness guru and 'The Biggest Loser' star Jillian Michaels welcomed two children with her ex-wife Heidi Rhoades.

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Jillian Michaels - The couple divorced in 2020, but are sharing custody of Lukensia and Phoenix.

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Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marioni -

'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon has been with activist Christine Marioni for more than 10 years.

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Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marioni -

The couple are raising two children from Nixon's previous relationship, as well their third child Max Ellington, who Marioni gave birth to in 2011.

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Rosie O'Donnell - Comedian Rosie O'Donnel is now a single mother to five children! She has been growing her family through adoption and artificial insemination since the 1990s.

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Wanda Sykes and Alex Niedbalski Sykes -

Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes met her wife Alex Niedbalski Sykes on the ferry to Fire Island! The couple welcomed their twins Lucas Claude and Olivia Lou in 2009.

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Maria Bello -

'Coyote Ugly' actress Maria Bello has one son from her previous relationship with Dan McDermott. She began dating Clare Munn when her son, Jackson, was 12 years old. She's now engaged to Dominique Cren (pictured).

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Maria Bello -

She told The New York Times that she wasn't sure how her son would react when he found out she was dating a woman, but he said, "Mom, love is love, whatever you are."

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Evan Rachel Wood -

Evan Rachel Wood has one son named Jack from her marriage to actor Jamie Bell. The 'West World' star is bisexual and when she asked her son what he'd think if she had a girlfriend, he responded with enthusiasm!

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Perez Hilton -

Celebrity gossip connoisseur Perez Hilton is now father to three children. He had all of his children with a surrogate; first Mario, then Mia Alma two years later, and baby Mayte Amor two years after that.

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Perez Hilton -

The proud father thanked his surrogate for giving him the greatest gift in life, and he now aims to advocate for surrogacy rights in the US.

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Sandra Bernhard and Sarah Spitzer - Comedian Sandra Bernhard and her long-term partner Sara Switzer are raising daughter Cicely, whom Bernhard gave birth to alone prior to their relationship.

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Clay Aiken -

'American Idol' star Clay Aiken came out as gay and welcomed his son Parker to the world in 2008. He co-parents Parker with his friend Jaymes Foster.

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Jenna Wolfe and Stephanie Gosk -

'Today' host Jenna Wolfe and her partner Stephanie Gosk have now welcomed two beautiful daughters, Quinn and Harper.

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Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita -

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Andy Cohen -

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Anderson Cooper -

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Anderson Cooper -

Anderson Cooper was in a long-term relationship with Benjamin Maisani until 2018, but the pair ended things on good terms.

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Anderson Cooper -

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Pete and Chasten Buttigieg -

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Ryan Murphy and David Miller -

Ryan Murphy and his husband, David Miller, welcomed their third child, a baby boy named Griffin, in 2020. The couple also have two other sons, Logan and Ford.

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Melissa Etheridge -

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Melissa Etheridge -

Tragically, she recently lost her son Beckett to opioid addiction at the age of 21.

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Elton John and David Furnish -

Elton John has been with his husband David Furnish for decades. The pair were one of the first couples to form a civil partnership when it became legal in the UK.

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Elton John and David Furnish -

They had both of their children with the same surrogate. Their adorable son Zachary was born in 2010 and Elijah in 2013.

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Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka -

Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka started dating back in 2004 and were married in 2014.

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Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka -

They had their fraternal twins Gideon Scott and Harper Grace with a surrogate in 2010. They say that they are each the biological father of one of the twins, but they don't want to find out which!

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Jodie Foster -

Jodie Foster married photographer and actress Alexandra Hedison in 2014.

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Jodie Foster -

The pair are raising Foster's two sons, Charles and Kit, whom Foster had with her ex-partner Cydney Bernard.

NL Beeld

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Matt Bomer and Simon Halls - Actor Matt Bomer, best known for his roles in 'White Collar' and 'The Sinner,' married his husband Simon Halls in 2011.

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Matt Bomer and Simon Halls -

The pair now have three boys together: Kit, Henry, and Walker.

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Jillian Michaels -

Fitness guru and 'The Biggest Loser' star Jillian Michaels welcomed two children with her ex-wife Heidi Rhoades.

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Jillian Michaels - The couple divorced in 2020, but are sharing custody of Lukensia and Phoenix.

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Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marioni -

'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon has been with activist Christine Marioni for more than 10 years.

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Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marioni -

The couple are raising two children from Nixon's previous relationship, as well their third child Max Ellington, who Marioni gave birth to in 2011.

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Rosie O'Donnell - Comedian Rosie O'Donnel is now a single mother to five children! She has been growing her family through adoption and artificial insemination since the 1990s.

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Wanda Sykes and Alex Niedbalski Sykes -

Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes met her wife Alex Niedbalski Sykes on the ferry to Fire Island! The couple welcomed their twins Lucas Claude and Olivia Lou in 2009.

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Maria Bello -

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Maria Bello -

She told The New York Times that she wasn't sure how her son would react when he found out she was dating a woman, but he said, "Mom, love is love, whatever you are."

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Evan Rachel Wood -

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Perez Hilton -

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Perez Hilton -

The proud father thanked his surrogate for giving him the greatest gift in life, and he now aims to advocate for surrogacy rights in the US.

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Sandra Bernhard and Sarah Spitzer - Comedian Sandra Bernhard and her long-term partner Sara Switzer are raising daughter Cicely, whom Bernhard gave birth to alone prior to their relationship.

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Clay Aiken -

'American Idol' star Clay Aiken came out as gay and welcomed his son Parker to the world in 2008. He co-parents Parker with his friend Jaymes Foster.

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Jenna Wolfe and Stephanie Gosk -

'Today' host Jenna Wolfe and her partner Stephanie Gosk have now welcomed two beautiful daughters, Quinn and Harper.

NL Beeld

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Your favorite celebrity LGBTQ+ parents

Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef are divorcing after six years, but plan to remain a close-knit family

07/07/23 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Parenting

In difficult times, it's heartwarming to remember that progress is still happening. Sometimes it can feel like society is taking a step back rather than forward, but we've still come such a long way. Same-sex marriage and surrogacy laws are slowly improving and Hollywood is filled with LGBTQ celebrities showing the world that families come in all shapes and sizes.

Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef have announced their decision to separate after six years of marriage. The Latin pop star and the Syrian-born Swedish artist met in 2016 and got married in 2018. Since then, they've been raising Martin's twin boys Matteo and Valentino together, and also welcomed a baby girl named Lucia in 2018 and a baby boy, named Renn, in 2019. The pair made a joint statement on their divorce on July 6, 2023: "For some time, we have considered transforming our relationship, and it is after careful consideration that we have decided to end our marriage with love, respect, and dignity for our children — preserving and honoring what we have experienced as a couple all of these wonderful years," they wrote. "Our greatest desire now is to continue having a healthy family dynamic and a relationship centered on our genuine friendship as we continue the joint upbringing of our children." Many LGBTQ+ parents are leading the way when it comes to showing that alternative family structures are just as loving and supportive as the nuclear family.

In this gallery, take a look at fantastic parents who triumphed over inequality and outdated laws to become loving caregivers and contribute to a more open-minded and progressive future generation. Click on to see these cute couples and their even cuter kids!