It’s been a very busy March for us at the CBC and I wanted to send you a quick update. The first week of March, I traveled to Geneva, Switzerland where I addressed an international group at the United Nations. I was invited to speak on a panel of experts where my role was commenting on the health risks of a surrogate pregnancy to the mother and the child(ren) she carries. I have spoken several times at the U.N. in New York, so it was exciting to be at the “other” U.N.

I am now writing to you from Melbourne, Australia where I am a speaker at an International Conference on Surrogacy. The first night I gave a talk and screened #BigFertility. The screening was followed by an official launch of my new book, Broken Bonds: Surrogate Mothers Speak Out which I edited along with my colleagues Dr. Renate Klein and Melinda Tankard Reist.

Jennifer Lahl giving radio interview

I was invited to do a radio interview with ABC in Australia, which you can listen to here.

The second day was a full-day conference with speakers from all around the world. Maggie Eastman, of our film Maggie’s Story, traveled with me and shared her personal story which had many, including myself, in tears. You must see Maggie’s film if you haven’t! She was a ten-time egg “donor” now diagnosed with stage IV terminal breast cancer. As many of you know, eggs are often used in surrogacy, especially when a gay male couple is entering into a surrogacy arrangement, so it was important to hear her voice at the conference and include her story in the new book. We also heard from “Odette,” a surrogate mother here in Australia – her story again only underscores the need to abolish surrogacy and not regulate it.

Photos from Australia


L to R: Professor Caroline Taylor launched Broken Bonds for co-editors Renate Klein, Jennifer Lahl and Melinda Tankard Reist.
Jennifer with Yoshi Yanagihara, who translates CBC films into Japanese.
Jennifer signed a book for Facebook fan Rachel.

 

I hope you will purchase a copy of the book and read all of these tragic stories. I’ll be stuffing as many copies of Broken Bonds as I can into my suitcase and as supplies last, you can purchase it directly from us for the special price of $19.95 + S&H and I’ll be sure to sign it for you before we mail it. The book will not be released in the U.S. until April and then we can buy more inventory. But if you want an early release signed copy, now is your chance!

Broken Bonds book coverBroken Bonds: Surrogate Mothers Speak Out
Early release copy signed by Jennifer Lahl, limited quantities
$19.95 + S&H

Read a preview of Broken Bonds below (scroll over window to zoom), or open the preview in a new tab here.

Also, as some regions in Australia don’t have access to online streaming of #BigFertility, they asked us to produce DVD copies, so again, while our supplies last, if you want a DVD you can purchase it here.

Of course, it would be even better if you purchased BOTH and help us spread the word. Don’t forget that the CBC has developed and updated our free study guide to help you show our films, lead a discussion and educate your networks on the work we do around the ethics of third-party conception.

Later this month, I’ll be traveling to New York City to screen #BigFertility. Then it’s on to Rice University to give two talks and Texas A&M to give two more. I close out March with a trip to Rome, Italy to speak at another International Conference on Surrogacy.

For those who are local or able to travel to California, don’t forget to buy your tickets now and join us for our 15th Paul Ramsey Dinner!

Grateful for your support,

Jennifer

P.S. Would you consider becoming one of our monthly supporters? That helps us better plan for the resources we need to do our work!

The Center for Bioethics and Culture is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit educational organization. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Author Profile

Jennifer Lahl, CBC Founder
Jennifer Lahl, CBC Founder
Jennifer Lahl, MA, BSN, RN, is founder and president of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. Lahl couples her 25 years of experience as a pediatric critical care nurse, a hospital administrator, and a senior-level nursing manager with a deep passion to speak for those who have no voice. Lahl’s writings have appeared in various publications including Cambridge University Press, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Dallas Morning News, and the American Journal of Bioethics. As a field expert, she is routinely interviewed on radio and television including ABC, CBS, PBS, and NPR. She is also called upon to speak alongside lawmakers and members of the scientific community, even being invited to speak to members of the European Parliament in Brussels to address issues of egg trafficking; she has three times addressed the United Nations during the Commission on the Status of Women on egg and womb trafficking.