Leading Community Organizations Join to Present "The Full Case for NY Surrogacy Reform"

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On Friday, November 8th, 2019, leading community organizations are holding in New York City an unprecedented event where the core ethical issues associated with surrogacy legislation will be tackled in a frank and thorough way. The co-sponsors for this event include Men Having Babies, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Family Equality Council, Equality NY, Stonewall Democrats of NYC, and The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.

The Child Parent Security Act (CPSA), which will reverse the ban on compensated surrogacy in New York State, was passed by the NY Senate earlier this year, and is likely to come up for a vote in the Assembly in the 2020 legislative session.

Several organizations that support the reform have assembled more than 30 speakers to help answer core questions such as: how do you justify the payment of compensation to gestational carriers, and what is this compensation for? What does academic research show about medical and psychological outcomes for the parties involved? What do medical, psychological, and legal experts recommend? How do surrogates and their families feel about the proposed bill? And what is the position of leading human rights organizations?

"While we think it is the most comprehensive and thoughtful surrogacy legislation ever drafted, the CPSA also faced criticism and claims that not enough discussion has taken place about ethical concerns," said Ron Poole-Dayan, the Executive Director of Men Having Babies, an organization that offers education and financial assistance to thousands of prospective gay fathers. "Therefore, we put together a program to offer medical, legal, ethical and historical perspectives on this debate, a review of relevant research findings, and a thorough analysis of how we think the proposed surrogacy legislation addresses core ethical issues & essential best practices," he said.

"We know firsthand how complicated gestational surrogacy can be when advocating for this family building option with lawmakers," said Barbara Collura, the President and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. "This forum will be an excellent opportunity to take an in-depth look at the impact of current and proposed policy in New York."

Among the speakers are several surrogates, their young adult children, children born through surrogacy, academic researchers, representatives of community organizations and international human rights organizations, and leading legal, mental health and medical experts.

Organizers are inviting lawmakers, community activists, professionals, academicians, students, parents and prospective parents to listen and offer feedback. More than 100 people already registered to attend.

Senator Brad Hoylman, who led the approval of the CPSA in the NY Senate, said: "The Trump Administration recently announced new rules to allow adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ parents. For many in the LGBTQ community, gestational surrogacy could be the only option to start a family. Yet for decades, families like mine have had to travel out-of-state for gestational surrogacy. It's long past time New York ends the antiquated ban on gestational surrogacy so LGBTQ couples and people experiencing infertility can build their families here at home. I'm grateful to Men Having Babies for hosting this important event, and I'm committed to passing my bill to legalize gestational surrogacy in this year's legislative session."

The program will take place Friday, November 8th 4:00 to 8:00pm, at the Stewart Hotel, 371 Seventh Ave, New York City, NY 10001.
Go to menhavingbabies.org/advocacy/forum/ny/ for registration and additional information.

Press inquiries: Contact Shelly Marsh, Marketing Director of Men Having Babies shelly(at)menhavingbabies.org / 714-515-9602. Interviews with community organization representatives, experts, surrogates, and parents can be arranged by request.

SOURCE Men Having Babies