GESTIÓN EN SALUD PÚBLICA: BioEdge: New York’s surrogacy bill fails at last minute

sábado, 22 de junio de 2019

BioEdge: New York’s surrogacy bill fails at last minute

BioEdge: New York’s surrogacy bill fails at last minute

Bioedge

New York’s surrogacy bill fails at last minute

by Michael Cook | 22 Jun 2019 |

Last week BioEdge reported that New York State was on the brink of legalising commercial surrogacy with the strong support of Governor Andrew Cuomo. But the proposal has fallen off the brink, stymied by opposition from a loose coalition of feminists and religious groups who argue that surrogacy exploits women.

“Many members, including a large majority of women in our conference, have raised important concerns that must be properly addressed before we can move forward,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

A furious Cuomo bitterly blamed three women legislators for stymieing the legislation. He has framed surrogacy as a gay-rights issue. “I do not understand the Assembly members who oppose this,” Cuomo said on Tuesday. “I have respect for Assembly member [Deborah] Glick and [Helene] Weinstein and Didi Barrett, but I just don’t see the possible rationale. Pass the law that protects women.”

Ms Glick, the first openly gay person to sit in the state assembly, said that Cuomo was not being respectful. “Personally, as an environmentalist I understand we have too many people in the world and as someone who has chaired the Social Services Committee in the past, I know that we have hundreds of thousands of youngsters looking for [adopted] families. I certainly do not think that there is sufficient protection for the women who do not appear to be considered as people in the arrangement, but rather as the donor and as the surrogate.”

The issue is far from over. Governor Cuomo has vowed to “continue the fight” when the legislature resumes.

Michael Cook is editor of BioEdge

This week Governor Andrew Cuomo threw in his cards, beaten in his attempt to pass a law legalising commercial surrogacy in New York. He was furious. “I say, how about a woman’s right to choose, which we just argued for Roe v. Wade?” Cuomo said in exasperation. (See article below.)

The thing is, Governor, the women did choose. They chose to oppose a bill which would exploit them. And it wasn't just the religious types. Deborah Glick, the first openly gay person to sit in the state assembly, said that Cuomo was not being respectful. “I certainly do not think that there is sufficient protection for the women who do not appear to be considered as people in the arrangement, but rather as the donor and as the surrogate.”

She is not alone. The president of the National Organization for Women said: "Commercial surrogacy does not depend on the willing choice of friends or family to help loved ones, instead it relies on the commodification of women’s bodies. History has shown us that the buying, selling and renting of their bodies does great harm to women."

It appears that Cuomo has failed to deliver on a promise to gay men to legalise commercial surrogacy so that they can rent the wombs of needy women. When push comes to shove, a new, rainbow-coloured patriarchy is just as ready to exploit women, feminists included, as the old patriarchy.