Tiffany Gardner
Wife. Mom. Attorney. Writer. Donor Conceived Person.
ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Tiffany Gardner. In 2018, just before my 36th birthday, my mom disclosed that I was conceived through the use of an anonymous sperm donor. This shocking news unraveled my sense of identity, having grown up with the belief that my biological father died of colon cancer when I was four.
I was raised by my biological mother and adoptive step-father and never needed a genetic connection to love him (or consider him Dad), but I always wondered about the traits I shared with my deceased biological father. Learning that my actual biological father was an anonymous sperm donor and might still be alive sent me on an immediate journey to identify him and make contact.
I identified my biological father, who lives only 40 minutes away. We formed a close friendship for one year, but his closest family members did not approve, causing him to abruptly end all contact with me. Two months later, the father who raised me died of cancer.
The heartbreaking results of my journey led me to become an advocate on behalf of donor conceived people and to support the abolition of anonymous gamete donation. I want other donor conceived people to have a better outcome and, if they wish, the opportunity to have an ongoing connection with their genetic family.
I live in Atlanta with my husband of 17 years and our three sons. I enjoy spending time with my family, including a donor conceived half brother I identified in 2019 and who lives just down the road. I work as an attorney, and in my free time I volunteer as president/CEO and vice president of communications for U.S. Donor Conceived Council.
*The views and opinions expressed on this page are solely my own and do not represent the views and opinions of my full-time employer. Unless otherwise indicated, the views and opinions expressed do not represent those of U.S. Donor Conceived Council.
Publications
“Forgotten Parties: Shifting the Focus of Donor Conception to Donor-Conceived Persons Through Reasonable Regulation,” Mercer L. Rev., Vol. 74: No. 2, Article 6 (2023).
“Why the Donor’s Identity Matters,” We Are Donor Conceived (2022).
“Gratitude & Grief Are Not Mutually Exclusive,” U.S. Donor Conceived Council (2022).
“Living My Truth Set Me Free,” We Are Donor Conceived (2020).
Other
Observer, Uniform Law Commission, Gamete Donor Identity Disclosure Study Committee (2023).
Podcast Interviews
Everything’s Relative with Eve Sturges
Episode: “Tiffany: U.S. Donor Conceived Council,” July 29, 2022.
Three Makes Baby (Jana Rupnow)
Episode: “Tiffany Loses Three Fathers, Advocates after Being Cut-off by Biological Father,” Nov. 23, 2021.
Media Interviews
“I thought my dad died when I was a child . . . ,” Nia Dalton, Mirror Online (July 2023).
“What Makes Family? Advocates Debate Importance of Biological Ties,” Amy Dockser Marcus, The Wall Street Journal (June 2023).
“Two Children Learn the Truth About Their Donor Father and Build a New Family,” Amy Dockser Marcus, The Wall Street Journal (June 2023).
“Egg and Sperm Donors Could Be Required to Share Their Medical Records,” Grace Browne, WIRED (Aug. 2022).
“Colorado Bans Anonymity,” Alison Motluck, HeyReprotech (June 2022).
“Colorado Law Would Lift Veil of Secrecy on Sperm Donations,” Mary Chris Jaklevic, MedScape (May 2022).
“The Children of Sperm Donors Want to Change the Rules of Conception,” Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic (Oct. 2021).
Let’s Talk.
I love to connect with other donor conceived people, donors, recipient parents, and anyone else who is interested in these issues, including members of the media. Please reach out at donorconceivedadult@gmail.com.