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The Surrogacy Lawyer Radio Program Presents
What’s In a Name? The Gestational Carrier Name Controversy
SAN DIEGO, March 9, 2011: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban caused quite a media stir a few weeks ago when they used “gestational carrier” to describe the woman who was the surrogate for their newborn daughter. First, the Australian media created a firestorm about their statement. Then commentary came from other critics who feel women are treated like commodities when they become surrogates and believe the term gestational carrier to be particularly degrading and emblematic of this perceived issue.
On the next episode of The Surrogacy Lawyer: Your Guide to IVF and Third Party Family Building Theresa Erickson, Esq., will be interviewing Jill Hancock Reeder and Melissa Buchanan, two surro-moms who have helped other men and women become parents via surrogacy. The program will air on Thursday, March 10 at 11AM PST/2PM EST on Voice America. They will be discussing what U.S. surrogates think of the controversy, what motivated them to become surrogates and how surrogacy has changed their lives.
Jill Hancock Reeder is the proud mom of three beautiful children and proud surro-mom to one girl and to twin boys. Jill writes a blog entitled the Mormon Surrogate (http://mormonsurrogate.blogspot.com/) and wrote and recently published her first book, Once Upon a Surrogate: The Stork’s Helpers, which her daughters helped illustrate. Melissa Buchanan is a single mother from the San Diego area who just gave birth two months ago to a baby boy for her first surrogacy.
“Those of us working in third party reproduction were surprised and a little shocked over the uproar caused by Nicole Kidman’s and Keith Urban’s use of gestational carrier,” says attorney Erickson. “And even though surrogacy is perhaps better understood and accepted in the United States, misconceptions about why women decide to become surro-moms still are very common. I’m confident that Jill and Melissa can help our listeners learn what surrogates think of this media flap, as well as about other critiques of the surrogate’s role in third party family building.”
About Theresa Erickson, Esq.
Ms. Erickson is the managing partner of Erickson Law and the founder and chair of Conceptual Options, The Surrogacy and Egg Donation Center. In addition, Ms. Erickson is the author of the newly released Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking? Erickson was motivated to write her second book so she could educate potential intended parents, as well as the women who become surrogates and egg donors, about what all parties need to know if they are going to become involved in third party reproduction.
Attorney Erickson is a globally recognized expert in this specialized area of law and is a board member of the American Fertility Association and the legal director of Parents Via Egg Donation. For more information, please visit www.ericksonlaw.net and www.conceptualoptions.com.
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