Conservatives have found something new to attack, and like most things they attack, it is something only consenting adults partake in, which harms nobody.
Surrogacy, a process in which someone carries and delivers a child for another person, has recently been under attack by many conservatives who strangely believe it is harmful to women. In actuality, the view against surrogacy is only a thinly veiled homophobic attack disguised as a women’s rights issue. It is just like conservatives to pretend to care about women’s rights.
On Jan. 8, Pope Francis called for a worldwide ban against the practice. It might be shocking to some that the head of the Catholic Church would focus on fictional worries instead of real world atrocities. Yes, the same organization which believes demonic possessions and abortion are real tragedies also takes issue with surrogacy.
In his address on the issue Francis said, “I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs.”
It is so hilarious to see the Catholic Church pretend to care about women’s rights when they also see abortion as an abomination as well. I guess Francis forgot the Virgin Mary took on someone else’s child instead of her husband’s.
Surrogacy is sadly illegal in Italy, and according to USA Today, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to push the ban on those who leave the country to have the procedure done. It would be shameful to see a ban against surrogacy in the United States, but that is what a worrying number of conservatives want.
In December, gay conservative commentator Guy Benson had a child with his partner through a surrogate mother. Benson’s own audience turned against him just as they did with fellow gay conservative commentator Dave Rubin for the same action.
I find it incredibly strange how gay conservatives can not only exist, but also stay quiet about the blatant attacks against them within their own party.
Surrogate mothers take up pregnancy through their own will. Nobody is forcing them to be pregnant, which is probably why Republicans do not like the practice. I am left astounded and confused as to why the same people who despise abortion would also hate surrogacy.
Many conservatives only extend “family values” to hetrosexual nuclear familes and no others. I believe all families should be respected and not only those seen as traditional. Surrogacy is a way for families to have their own biological children when they would not be able to. This not only applies to homosexual couples, but heterosexual couples with problems of infertility.
I myself love the idea of surrogacy because I would love to have my own biological children some day. I extend empathy to others who want their own biological children who are not able to conceive a child. These are human beings who have every right to raise a family and not some abysmal accident. Instead of just pretending to care about women’s rights, conservatives should actually care about them and let women be surrogate mothers if they would like to be.
Nico Brazill can be contacted at
nbrazill@kscequinox.com
