Film Puts Surrogacy Under Examination As Legislation Is Debated Nationwide

PLEASANT HILL, Calif., June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Jennifer Lahl and The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network (CBC), producers of the award-winning documentary, "Eggsploitation" (2010) and "Anonymous Father's Day" (2011), announced they will host special screenings of their new film, "Breeders: A Subclass of Women?," on June 18 in New York City and June 19 in Washington, D.C.

The legality of surrogacy is currently on the hotplate of political discussions throughout the nation. Just last weekend, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal vetoed a bill for the second time to legalize compensated surrogacy for married, heterosexual couples. A bill introduced in D.C. last year would allow residents above the age of 21 to enter into surrogacy agreements. After the parents agree to pay medical expenses, the gestational carrier surrenders her rights to raise the child. In New York, State Senator Brad Hoylman is co-sponsoring a proposed law to overturn the current prohibition, making compensated surrogacy legal.

Lahl's film, "Breeders: A Subclass of Women?" raises vital questions about surrogacy through the experiences of four women: the unexpected consequences and heart-wrenching emotions when their maternal identity and personal autonomy are taken from them. Alongside their stories, reflections and opinions from a wide range of feminists and industry professionals reveal that, while technology might have made obtaining biological children easier, the human heart remains deeply complex.

"While extremely sympathetic to the desires of infertile couples to have children, I am deeply concerned with how little focus is placed on the children created via surrogacy or on the women needed to supply their wombs," said Lahl. "I was a pediatric nurse for over two decades. In that field, a high priority is placed on the maternal-child bond. With each year, we learn more about the importance of the womb and about the life-long connection between mother and child. The relatively new field of epigenetics demonstrates clearly that those nine months in the womb have an extremely important impact on the child's later health, sense of identity, and connection."

Screenings of "Breeders" will take place in New York, New York, on June 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Bowtie Chelsea Cinema at 260 West 23^rd Street, and on Thursday, June 19 in Washington, D.C., at 7:00 p.m. at the Landmark theatre at 555 11^th St. NW. Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/. Lahl will be on-site to host a Q&A after both screenings.

For additional information about "Breeders," visit breeders.cbc-network.org/.

The Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC) addresses bioethical issues that most profoundly affect our humanity, especially issues that arise in the lives of the most vulnerable among us.
For more, visit www.CBC-Network.org.

Note to Editors: For additional information, including downloadable images, visit http://breeders.cbc-network.org/. To attend either the New York or D.C. screening or to arrange an interview with Jennifer Lahl, please contact Heidi McDow at 972.267.1111 or via e-mail at [email protected].   

SOURCE The Center for Bioethics and Culture