Film Producers Unveil New Documentary Examining Surrogacy and its Nationwide Legislation Debate

Breeders: A Subclass of Women, produced by The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, will be hosting a special screening in Minneapolis

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The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network

Jul 31, 2014, 08:35 ET

PLEASANT HILL, Calif., July 31, 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 a special screening of their new film, Breeders: A Subclass of Women?, on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at the Lagoon Cinema in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The legality of surrogacy is currently on the hotplate of political discussions throughout the nation. In Minnesota, since 2002, surrogacy legislation has repeatedly come before the state legislature. In 2008, then Governor Pawlenty vetoed a surrogacy bill, citing, "significant ethical and public policy issues that have not been adequately addressed." In Louisiana, Governor Jindal recently vetoed for the second time a bill to legalize compensated surrogacy. A bill introduced in D.C. last year would allow residents above the age of 21 to enter into compensated surrogacy agreements. In New York, State Senator Brad Hoylman is co-sponsoring a proposed law to overturn the current prohibition, making compensated surrogacy legal.

CBC'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."

The screening of Breeders? will take place at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 6 at the Lagoon Cinema. Please purchase tickets in advance at this link. Lahl and two of the women who appear in the film will be on-site to host a Q&A after the screening.

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 the screening or to arrange an interview with Jennifer Lahl, please contact Jennifer Lahl directly: Email

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jennifer Lahl
Email
925.407.2660

SOURCE:
The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network

SOURCE The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network