When Danni & Mollie met at the University of Michigan at a sorority event, they instantly knew they’d be best friends. What they didn’t predict is that their “Big/Little” titles would be upgraded to “Wife 4 Life” 10 years later!

Since then, they’ve built an incredible life & Jewish community in Chicago. They got married in a celebration that incorporated their modern take on Jewish traditions – like BOTH smashing the glass at the end of the ceremony and waving a Pride flag during the Hora.

When it came time to start the family-building process, Danni & Mollie were excited & overwhelmed. As a same-sex couple, they always knew having children wasn’t going to be straightforward. They’ve always wanted biological children, so they’re pursuing artificial insemination using donor sperm via either IUI or IVF. They’re hopeful as they take this journey, but also nervous about the emotional and financial burdens of the process.

On top of the existing nerves, Danni & Mollie learned that their insurance would not cover their procedures – the language in their policy was outdated & inherently discriminatory against same-sex couples. They have taken it upon themselves to advocate for their rights & the rights of those that follow – but they can’t help but feel defeated and disappointed by the discrimination that still exists against LGBTQ+ couples.

Danni & Mollie have always seen themselves as Moms, and they can’t wait to raise their future children. They will instill values they hold dear in their kids – values that they built their relationship on – like friendship, commitment, equality, respect, compassion, and acceptance. They can’t wait to take their kids on bike rides on the lakefront, ice cream dates to Scooters, and Shabbat dinners. They are endlessly grateful to the JUF Path to Parenthood Program and the Chicago Coalition for Family Building for supporting their journey to Motherhood!

Danni and Mollie are recipients of the Path to Parenthood Grant from the Jewish United Fund – Chicago.