For Whitney and Megan Bacon-Evans, having a family was always in the cards. But the influencers, like other #queercouples, say they never imagined the “gay tax” they’d face on their #fertilityjourney. The couple, who have been together for almost 15 years, knew within six months that they wanted to have children together one day – even picking out #babynames for their future kids. Whitney tells #PinkNews that the couple was “really in the dark” because there were no examples of families that looked like theirs who accessed #fertilitytreatment through the #NHS. Then, when they finally got an NHS consultation, they were given the wrong information. The couple, known collectively online as ‘Wegan’, were told they needed to go through at least six cycles of #intrauterineinsemination (#IUI) artificial insemination in the clinic before they are eligible for NHS #invitrofertilisation (#IVF). But they later found out that it was actually 12 cycles – which cost upwards of £1,600 for each cycle. “They say six of which had to be at a clinic, but you can’t do home insemination with sperm from a sperm bank so 12 of which would have to be IUI in the clinic,” Megan says. “So you’re looking at around £25,000 to £50,000 potentially depending on tests, the cost of sperm – which is expensive as well – let alone anything else that goes with it. “We were just really shocked because we’re like, ‘Hang on a minute, there’s clearly a big, unfair financial burden that’s been placed on same-sex female couples in this situation because the criteria for a cis, heterosexual is two years of unprotected s3x.’ “So while we know that it takes its toll and it’s not a fun process for anyone to go through trying to conceive, there’s no evidence required, and there’s no financial cost. “There’s just a clear divide where there’s a gay tax, if you will, being put on lesbian couples.” Full article via link in bio 🔗 #queertok #rainbowbaby #twomoms #lgbtqrightsarehumanrights #fertilityawareness #fertilityequality #whatwegandidnext