January 1, Celebrities Buying Babies Sparks Surrogacy Debate

Wyatt’s Take

• Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying revealed he and his partner are having a baby through surrogacy.
• Critics question the ethics of surrogacy, citing risks for children and mothers.
• This trend raises tough questions about family and what’s best for kids.

On a recent episode of Dancing With The Stars, Scott Hoying announced that he and his partner Mark are expecting a baby by using a surrogate.

In a video shared on Instagram and aired during the show, they said, “We’re having a baby. Our surrogate is pregnant. We’re going to be dads.”

Some reporters ignored common sense, asking if the two men felt as if they were “pregnant.”

More celebrities are opting for surrogacy, but the process can come with hidden costs for everyone involved. Concerns include children separated from one side of their family, unknown medical histories, and ethical issues.

Many worry that a child loses the chance to know and be cared for by his real mother when surrogacy is used.

Surrogacy for same-sex couples often involves one woman for the egg, another to carry the child, and a third in the child’s life later, seeking a maternal figure.

This process turns children and women into commodities, letting people pick traits and pay large sums to surrogate mothers. Screening is often less strict than adoption, leaving openings for risks.

There have been tragic abuses, including cases where criminals gained custody over children born through international surrogacy arrangements.

After the show, Hoying cheered the rise of “queer” representation on TV: “Growing up we didn’t see a lot of queer couples on TV — ever — and like I just like really, really hope that there’s queer kids out there that like feel like their story deserves to be told, and like they can find love and live their dreams.”

Some worry that forcing children into these situations serves the parents’ wishes while pushing aside the child’s needs.

Stories shared by surrogacy-born kids, like a little girl searching for her mother, highlight the pain of being disconnected from one’s roots.

Every child deserves to know and be loved by their mom. Stripping that away just for adult wishes leaves wounds that don’t heal.

Read more

Wyatt Matters

In the heartland, family means something real—roots, love, and a mother’s arms. Outsourcing birth for convenience and image leaves our values and the needs of innocent kids behind.