Arts & Entertainment
Gay South African couple become first to father triplets
Theo and Christo Menelaou are now parents to Joshua, Zoe and Kate
(Screenshot via YouTube)
A gay South African couple has possibly become the first same-sex couple to father triplets born with both fathers’ DNA.
According to The Sun, Theo and Christo Menelaou each fertilized one egg of a surrogate with their DNA. The surrogate gave birth to twins and a third triplet. During the pregnancy, doctors discovered one of the eggs had split and recommended terminating two of the pregnancies. Instead, the Menelaous found a gynecologist who would work with them and decided to proceed with the pregnancy.
The triplets were born in July and the couple named them Joshua, Zoe and Kate.
“When you are gay, there is always the thought that it just may not be possible to be a parent no matter how much you would love to be,”Christo Menelaou told Sky News. “It’s very hard to be accepted for adoption and we were told we would always come after heterosexual couples. And then we just never thought we’d ever find a person who would want to be surrogate to a gay couple.”
The triplets were placed on breathing apparatus and consistently monitored in the hospital for a few weeks after birth. The triplets were allowed to come home one by one and now are at home with their dads. Zoe will still need heart surgery in the coming weeks, and all three still struggle with breathing on their own. But the couple is still grateful.
“We have to gently massage their backs, or tickle their toes just to remind them to take a breath,” Theo Menelaou told The Sun. “We feel so blessed. We really do.”
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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