March 11, 2019

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor, State of New York
Executive Chamber
New York State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo,

We served as surrogates because we enjoy being pregnant and wanted to help others who for various reasons could not have their own child. We thought we were doing a wonderful thing and that people had our best interest at heart.

When things turned bad, we had nowhere to go, no one to help and no resources available to us. We were lied to, used, exploited and still suffer long-term physical and emotional harm.

While we realize this is not the story of every surrogacy arrangement, we know there are no guarantees, and for these reasons we now oppose surrogacy policies and laws that first and foremost do not protect surrogate mothers and the children they carry.

The surrogate agencies won’t tell you about us. The lawyers who had us sign contracts won’t either, nor will the intended parents. We are brushed aside and ignored.

Please consider our voices, our stories, as you decide on changing the law in New York.

Toni Bare, IA
Anonymous, UT*
Heather Mullins, TX
Melissa Cook, CA
Britni Keen, OH
Heather Heck, AZ
Kelly Martinez, SD
Anonymous, NJ*
Jessica Allen, CA
Tanya Prashad, MN
Michelle Hornbeck, MT
Stephanie Levesque, TX
Claudia Sabbah, NV

*women have had to sign anonymously due to confidentiality clauses in their contracts, ongoing custody battles with the children they gave birth to, or to protect the children’s privacy

cc: Members of the New York State Assembly, members of the New York State Senate

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