Karl Surkan

Karl will create a video documentary that follows him and his partner as they plan an alternative family. By telling his story as a transgender person in a same-sex relationship facing infertility and a genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, he hopes to challenge and create awareness about gender expectations related to pregnancy, motherhood, and fatherhood. Karl's desire to have a child biologically related to him has been questioned and misunderstood by friends, family members, and reproductive medical specialists. The film will consist of footage of his treatment in fertility clinics and OB/GYN offices and will include interview footage about the condition of his health and his role as a professor of Women's and Gender Studies.