I am proud to be a Minnesotan and to be a surrogate.

Some say surrogates like me are coerced, disenfranchised, renting our wombs, or selling babies. To suggest that I am any of these things is offensive and demeaning. I am neither poor nor uneducated, and my primary motivation was to share the miracle of children with a family that could not have this essential human experience without my help. It is a complete honor to be entrusted with the care of a precious life. Like daycare providers, surrogates provide temporary care for someone’s most precious gift. We ensure that developing babies get the care and nutrients they need to become beautiful, healthy, and unique children.

I only engaged in surrogacy after careful research and thorough screening to determine that I was suitable for the process and it was safe for me, both medically and psychologically. The professional guidance I received from mental health and medical professionals as well as my independent legal counsel ensured that I was fully informed, had proper motivations, was psychologically and physically healthy, and had a strong support system around me. I support legislation that would mandate these responsible practices, which make surrogacy successful in our state.

I strongly oppose any legislation that would restrict surrogacy in Minnesota, most notably by restricting compensation to surrogates, which would end surrogacy in Minnesota except for extremely rare cases where aspiring parents are lucky enough to have a friend or family member volunteer to be their surrogate without compensation. I believe compensation is fully justified to help surrogates support their families while they take time off work for doctor appointments and to recover from the birth, and to compensate them for physical pain, health risks, and the behavioral sacrifices they make to ensure babies are born healthy.  

Please accept this letter as evidence of the strength and health of our surrogacy community in Minnesota.