Single Mom Creates Viral Content On TikTok Advocating For Her LGBTQ+ & Disabled Children

Eeka McLeod and her family. Photo by Ashly Nicole @ashlynicolephoto | Makeup: Erik Torppe @theglamjew | Hair: Bijan Kazemzadeh @paleopaque | Kids’ Fashion: Joyfolie @joyfolie // Michele Marie PR @michelemariepr | Eeka Fashion: Rebdolls @rebdolls // Michele Marie PR @michelemariepr

Social media has become the proverbial megaphone for our generation. It is a powerful tool (albeit with its own numerous flaws) that has helped amplify important messages, campaigns, and the work various people are doing, that perhaps mainstream media would not be interested in covering. 

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat have introduced us to an interesting array of ordinary people and influencers, who are doing incredible work in many areas. In the case of Eeka McLeod and her family, also known as @themcleodfam on TikTok and @themcleodfamily on Instagram, fans and followers are able to see first hand what life is like for a single foster mom raising 3 children, and tackling issues like autism and cerebral palsy, as well as celebrating one of them being LGBTQ+. 

A proud single mother, Eeka McLeod’s journey to building her family began when she made the decision to pursue her lifelong dream of adopting a child. After becoming a licensed foster parent while in graduate school, she started welcoming children into her home. Throughout her time fostering, Eeka cared for 18 children and eventually adopted three: Eli, Evan and Ella. Eli has Cerebral Palsy while Evan and Ella are on the Autism Spectrum, so she has dedicated her life to meeting their unique needs while helping them find ways to express their individuality. 

The self-described “family of misfits” has made a name for themselves on social media during the pandemic with unapologetically real, hilarious content that showcases the triumphs and challenges of their daily life. Their devoted fanbase includes 116 million likes and 2.4 million followers on TikTok, over 100,000 followers on Instagram, as well as over 2.6 million views and over 50,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Eeka, who has two Master's Degrees in Professional Counseling as well as Marriage and Family Therapy, is passionate about using the family’s platform to advocate for acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities. 

Six year-old Evan, who is non-binary, has become a social media star in his own right thanks to his love of wearing long dresses and colorful hairstyles. His story even caught the attention of TikTok sensations The Old Gays, whom he recently met. You can watch the heartwarming video here. It has also garnered coverage from well-known outlets such as The Today Show, Out Magazine, CBS News, and In The Know just to name a few. Evan frequently appears in content with the popular TikTok House PrideHouseLA founded by entertainers Mollee Gray, Kent Boyd, and Jeka Jane, who we have featured previously on GirlTalkHQ

We had the chance to speak with Eeka about her beautiful kids and using their social media platform as a way to connect with the world.

@themcleodfam

It is an honor & a privilege to be Evan’s mom 💞

♬ Metamorphosis (Longer Version) v2 – Danilo Stankovic

Your motherhood journey began back in graduate school when you decided to become a foster parent. Can you tell us more about this decision, and what drew you to becoming a foster parent?

I always knew I would adopt children. When I was in high school, I had a couple friends whose parents were actually foster parents. I loved going to their home and seeing all the kids running around. It was then that I knew that I would likely foster to adopt.

You now have 3 children, Eli Evan and Ella, who you adopted after fostering them. What was the experience and journey to adopting all 3 of your children?

It was rough. Like many people, I had a very naive view of what adoption would look like. But it’s not this beautiful, easy thing. It was mentally and emotionally challenging on levels I never expected. The path I chose was most definitely not the easy one, but it’s clear my children and I were always meant to be a family. I often tell people that I walked through fire for my kids because that’s what it felt like: painful, stressful, anxiety provoking, etc.

During the pandemic you started sharing more about your family on social media, and have grown a fan base of millions of supporters and followers! Why do you think so many people resonate with the content and stories you share?

I think a lot of people know what it's like to be “different.” Seeing a family like ours enjoying our lives, thriving, and experiencing the world in the midst of facing criticism, judgment, and hate shows people they are not alone in any of this and they have the right to live their most authentic lives as joyfully as they choose.

@themcleodfam

Cuteness overload 🥰

♬ My money dont jiggle jiggle – Duke & Jones

You are passionate about using your platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ issues and disability awareness, which has caught the attention of major media outlets such as CBS News and The Today Show. Why is it important for you to talk about these topics?

It is important because we are a part of these communities—communities that face discrimination, hate, and ostracism every single day. It is my hope that by sharing our story and our lives, we can educate others and improve circumstances for these communities.

What are some misconceptions or stigmas about fostering and adoption you have come across a lot and want to dispel?

There are too many to be able to narrow any one down. But ultimately, I hope people know that most foster parents genuinely want to help families whose children have entered the foster care system.

For other prospective foster parents out there who want to know more about fostering a child, what advice would you give them based on your experience?

That the term “one and done” exists for a reason. The initial experience of that first case is often so stressful and traumatizing for foster parents that they choose to close their homes and never foster again. Fostering is not easy and is not something that should be entered into with unrealistic expectations. As a foster parent, you are serving families in incredibly painful circumstances and in a system that will not support what you are doing. It’s a very hard road and surviving in the system will not always be possible.

@themcleodfam Eli was calling for his babysitter @Mishelleeee ♬ Yellow – Kina Grannis

We love the way you are encouraging each of your kids to find their own voice and express themselves as individuals. What have been some of the biggest challenges on your parenting journey so far that you have talked about in your videos and posts?

Probably the lack of support for families like ours. My children have a lot of appointments, challenges, and struggles. There is very little by way of support for families like ours. I feel alone a lot of the time and like I’m constantly running into walls.

We often talk about kids learning from parents and other adults, but it is often the other way round too. Can you tell us some of the most beautiful and powerful things you have learned from each of your children?

My kids have taught me how to let go. They show me each day how capable they are and while I want to make things easier for them, allowing them the freedom to learn on their own is priceless.

What exciting content should we expect to see from the McLeod family in the near future?

This is a whole new journey for us so we don’t know as of yet, but stay tuned!


Keep up with the McLeod's on TikTok Instagram and get to know their journey on their Youtube Channel.