Single Parents, I need your input please!

MidwestIrishBridea

I originally posted what I'm going to paste below in the LGBT Parenting board, but if you'd read it and hopefully offer me the same input as a single parent (straight or LBGT), then I would also really really appreciate it!  Thank you so much!

 

Hello everyone! 

So I'll say upfront that I'm a straight female in a heterosexual relationship and I'm a big supporter and advocate for equal rights for the LGBTQ community. This is something that's very important to me.

I want to become a birth educator.  I'd like to become certified in Bradley classes, become a certified Doula, and a lactation specialist, as well as someone who can help with holistic health advice for a person's home.  I'm currently in the process of making that happen, first by self-education while pregnant, and then I'm going to begin taking my classes after my babe is born.

That being said.... I live in a pretty conservative environment.  (Northern Indiana) But I KNOW there is still a good population in my area that consists of LGBT families, single parents, and parents of all sorts who are simply non-religious and I feel as though it's probably tough for them to get the prenatal, postnatal and holistic health services they'd like to receive without the looks and bias and such. 

Once I can begin my services, I want to be the provider that will fully support and provide loving services to people of ALL walks of life.  Whether you be conservative, liberal, religious, non-religious, straight, unwed, LGBT.....basically, just anybody, I want that person or couple to feel like my services will be full and open to their indivual needs.

So here's where you come in. (Sorry that took so long....)  As members of the LGBT community, what do you look for in a service provider?  This includes before you ever say hello to them, such as when you're browsing their website and materials, and when you interview them.  What would catch your eye to make you think that you might be comfortable with someone?  What indications are you searching for that would give you the confidence to call a doula, a CBE, a HHC, or whatever without first being fearful that they'd discriminate in some way? 

In asking this, I'm not looking to "lure in" clients.  Moreso, I want to be sensitive to communities that don't fit the majority that's where I live.  I'm trying to learn what it is I can do, say, or offer upfront that would put someone's mind at ease or give them confidence in the kind of professional relationship I would offer them.  Any sort of advice or input or personal testimony would be FANTASTIC. 

Thank you so much!