Father's Day: Three love stories that break patterns

What defines a father? A birth certificate? Biology? Social interaction? On Father's Day , celebrated this Sunday (August 10th), Metrópoles talks to three men who show that love and commitment to raising a child can arise in different ways—some unexpected, others full of challenges—but all deeply rooted in affection.

Cassio, Cleyton, and Rodrigo experience fatherhood in its essence . It's a bond that cannot be explained, even if, to do so, they have to defy social expectations in the name of love. They are fathers who learned, improvised, and resisted. Men who chose to care, educate, and transform even when adversity seemed to prevail.

Siomar and Cassio: the love that crossed borders to become a family

Entrepreneurs and life partners, Cassio de Freitas and Siomar Parreira always knew they wanted to be parents. This desire was present from the beginning of their relationship. "The desire to start a family was always very clear between us," says Cassio.

They knew, however, that the path wouldn't be simple. After much research, they decided to pursue surrogacy in the United States, where there is a stronger legal framework for this type of procedure, especially in the state of California.

"We wanted both of us to have genetic material in the process, and surrogacy was the best option. But we did everything ourselves, without consulting, and that made everything more challenging," she explained.

The process was full of surprises and scares. "We didn't know what would happen next; it was all a bit of a blur. Suddenly, an email arrived saying that, the next day, we needed to deposit a large amount, and we didn't even know this step existed."

Choosing a surrogate mother also required an emotional connection. "It's not just a medical exam. The person needs to have a lifestyle compatible with what you expect. In our case, she was calm, healthy, and positive. But it took eight failed attempts to find her."

Today, with his children in his arms, Cassio is certain he would do it all again. "Many people wait for the perfect moment—the ideal financial situation, being 100% emotionally ready. If this is your dream, you need to start. Every step is worth it."

Fatherhood completely changed his worldview. "You start to think about the future through your children's eyes. Everything starts to be planned by and for them. They're blank canvases that we now have the mission to color. Now, I understand things my parents said that didn't make sense before." He adds: "It's the greatest love in the world. The best thing that ever happened to us."

Cleyton: the father who experienced pregnancy and breastfeeding

At 30, digital influencer Cleyton Bitencourt is a single father of two. But his path to fatherhood was long and fraught with challenges. "When I was about 19 or 20, I came out as a trans man. It was a very difficult process. I was afraid, especially of rejection from my family—and that's exactly what happened."

For a long time, Cleyton struggled with family estrangement and loneliness. Even before he recognized himself as a trans man, he already had a clear desire: to be a father. And more than that—to carry a child.

"After my gender transition , this dream remained with me. I was very afraid. Of prejudice, of lack of information, of not having adequate access to healthcare. Because I was gender-recognized, I needed care considered 'feminine,' like prenatal care , and this created a lot of insecurity."

It was during my marriage to a trans woman that the possibility became a reality. "I talked to my children's mother, and over time, she also wanted to experience motherhood. That's how we had our first daughter, Alex."

Pregnancy was challenging. Cleyton faced stares, medical questions, and attacks on social media. "The doctors were confused, they didn't know how to treat me. I faced prejudice, but I focused on living this dream. I even went to therapy to deal with it all, but I knew I wanted to enjoy every moment."

The second pregnancy was less turbulent—still quite challenging. Shortly after the birth of their second child, the relationship ended. "For personal reasons, we decided that I would stay with the children."

Cleyton now lives the intense routine of a single father. "It's demanding. I barely have time for myself. I've always wanted to experience this. It's something that drains me and overwhelms me at the same time. I love taking care of them, doing everything for them. They are my biggest dream come true."

Rodrigo and Bruno: from mourning, a new family is born

Health insurance broker and sales consultant Rodrigo Medina had his first daughter in 1995, the result of a relationship that began when he was still a teenager. They were married for over 10 years until, in 2007, he and the girl's mother mutually decided to go their separate ways. Shortly thereafter, Rodrigo moved to São Paulo in search of a new direction.

Two years passed until the phone rang. On the other end of the line, the ex-partner announced that she was pregnant again, but the child's father, a married man, wouldn't admit paternity. "He said he'd come back to help if needed; after all, he was my daughter's brother," recalls Rodrigo.

The baby was born, named Bruno, and gradually took up residence in Rodrigo's heart. When the boy was just 11 months old, the news that would change everything came: Bruno's mother had been diagnosed with a uterine tumor .

"It was almost two years of treatment, and unfortunately, she passed away. Before that, we met and she asked me to stay with him in case the worst happened." Rodrigo honored the request.

Living together turned into real fatherhood, with all its pain and discoveries. The adoption was only officialized in 2022, after a nine-year process. "Today we live in Florianópolis, with a simple and very happy life," he says. Still, he doesn't romanticize it.

"This whole process was challenging, even with a support network. I had many doubts about my upbringing and felt unprepared for single parenthood. It's normal to see women in this role, but they're often overlooked. A committed father is still seen as an exception."

Rodrigo rejects any title of hero. "I don't consider myself a hero because of an atypical story. I consider myself more of a citizen seeking to improve society and facing daily challenges alone."