Janene Oleaga, Esq., founder of Oleaga Law LLC, recently appeared on ASRM Today, the podcast of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, to discuss the political and legal forces shaping access to reproductive care for LGBTQ+ patients. The episode, part of the show's season-long focus on LGBTQ+ issues in reproductive medicine, was released on the eve of Pride Month and features a conversation with host Jeffrey Hayes and co-host Dr. Lowell Ku, alongside Jennifer Maas.
The discussion examined how recent legislative shifts are affecting access to fertility treatment, family building, abortion services, and gender-affirming reproductive care. The panel explored the complicated laws families navigate, the influence of ideology on medical decision making, and the role of advocacy in protecting reproductive autonomy. According to the press release, Oleaga's record on family equality includes the New York Supreme Court's Matter of Baby DKN decision recognizing three legal parents to a child born through assisted reproduction. She also testified before the Maine Legislature in support of LD 1906, An Act to Enable Confirmatory Adoption, which strengthened legal protections for LGBTQ+ parents through assisted reproduction, and LD 1539, An Act to Provide Access to Fertility Care, which expanded insurance coverage for fertility treatment in Maine.
Oleaga founded Oleaga Law LLC to help individuals and couples build their families through assisted reproduction and adoption. Licensed in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, she is a member of ASRM's Legal Professionals Group and serves on the boards of NYAAFF, New England Fertility Society, AllPaths, and the BIVF Foundation. The full episode is available on all podcast streaming platforms.
This announcement is important because it highlights the ongoing legal and policy challenges that LGBTQ+ individuals face in accessing fertility care, and underscores the role of legal professionals and advocacy in shaping equitable access. As legislative battles over reproductive rights continue across the United States, discussions like those on ASRM Today provide critical insights into how laws impact family building for marginalized communities. Oleaga's work, including her involvement in landmark cases and legislative testimony, exemplifies the intersection of law and medicine in advancing reproductive autonomy.
