From Protecting Michelle Obama to Building a Family Through Surrogacy: LGBTQ+ Advocate Cory Allen on Love, Loss and Fatherhood

Corey Allen, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who protected Michelle Obama, shares his raw and inspiring journey from protecting national icons to becoming a father through surrogacy—a path marked by profound loss, emotional vulnerability, and unwavering love. His story reveals the hidden emotional toll of surrogacy: the heartbreak of two failed embryo transfers, the trauma of losing two pregnancies, and the grief that lingers long after the medical process ends. What makes his narrative revolutionary is not just his resilience, but his insistence that men in LGBTQ+ families must be allowed to grieve openly, to cry, and to be emotionally present—challenging the myth that strength means silence. He also exposes the industry’s misleading 'rosy picture' of surrogacy, warning that success is never guaranteed and that emotional and financial preparedness are non-negotiable. Through his children’s book *Dada Takes a Trip*, Corey turns personal pain into a tool for healing, helping young children understand separation and love. His message is clear: building a family through assisted reproduction is not a linear path, but one that demands courage, community, and radical honesty.