Virginia

Virginia surrogacy bill doesn't go far enough

Published

2 months ago

March 4, 2024

Virginia surrogacy bill doesn't go far enough

Virginia is on the verge of legalizing surrogacy brokers. A bill sent to Gov. Glenn Youngkin last week would repeal the state’s ban on accepting compensation for facilitating surrogacy arrangements. The Republican governor has through March 8 to sign the bill into law.

Getting rid of the ban on brokering surrogacy is a good idea. But Virginia should go further and ditch its ban on commercial surrogacy, too.

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Obsolete and Paternalistic

Under current law, it’s a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person or business “to accept compensation for recruiting or procuring surrogates or…otherwise arranging or inducing an intended parent and surrogates to enter into surrogacy contracts.” Doing so is punishable by up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $2,500. Someone in violation of this law could also be sued by parties to the brokered surrogacy contract.

“This 30-year-old statute is just absolutely obsolete, and it’s not enforced,” family law attorney Colleen Maria Quinn told a House subcommittee in January.

Yet House Bill 110, the measure repealing this provision, has been controversial—perhaps surprisingly so, considering that the old law is not being used and that actual surrogacy for pay would still be banned. In the Virginia House, votes on the measure were nearly evenly split (50–48).

The surrogacy brokerage ban was passed with an eye toward preventing people from being coerced into surrogacy, notes the Virginia Mercury. Some lawmakers have suggested that ending the brokerage ban would mean more coercion. But there are less extreme mechanisms that can ensure everything is on the up and up. As a surrogate, “you’ve got to have your own lawyer, for goodness’ sake,” Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Fairfax) said at the January subcommittee hearing. And this attorney is “obligated to make sure [a surrogate is] acting of [her] own free will.”

To recap: A woman can say she consents to be a surrogate, show through her actions that she consents to be a surrogate, have a lawyer attest to her consent to be a surrogate…and some people will still worry that she didn’t really consent to be a surrogate.

This is, alas, par for the paternalistic course when it comes to women’s decisions involving their bodies.

A certain sort of person will never be convinced that a woman would willingly become a surrogate, or get an abortion, or engage in sex for pay, and so on. So they deny the agency of women who do, in fact, willingly do these things. And they use this alleged lack of agency to justify roadblocks for women’s “protection.”

In this case, a woman who wants to be a surrogate is not only barred from being paid for her services, she also needs a court-appointed lawyer to speak for her so the state will see her as apable of speaking for herself.

Now Let People Pay Surrogates

There should be no ban on commercial surrogacy. Surrogacy is good for women and good for families (something I elaborated on in a recent op-ed for The Dispatch). It helps families have biological children they may not otherwise be able to have, and it can provide income and purpose to those serving as surrogates.

There’s been a good deal of research on surrogate mothers that counters conservative and radical feminist fears about the process. Far from being a last resort that only women with no other financial prospects do, surrogacy is often undertaken by women with altruistic as well as financial motives. Surrogates often report that their experiences are positive, harmonious, and meaningful. Decades of research on surrogate experiences has found that many are emotionally and psychologically well-adjusted. Studies also suggest that surrogates seldom regret the experience years later.

Of course, such positive experiences aren’t going to be universal. But we don’t generally ban things just because some fraction of people have negative experiences. In fact, it’s a bad idea to ban things based on the prevalence of positive or negative feelings about them at all. Is isn’t the government’s job to protect adults’ emotional well-being.

In this and so many other matters, the government should get out of the way and let consenting adults contract as they see fit.

Virginia lawmakers are right to repeal the state’s ban on surrogacy brokers. Next they should repeal the laws that forbid direct payment for the service of surrogacy and that allow surrogate compensation only for costs associated with the pregnancy.

They should also do away with laws making the whole process more burdensome for all parties and giving the government final say over whether surrogacy arrangements are OK. Under current Virginia law, a court must approve all surrogacy contracts and the approval is only good for 12 months. To get approval, intended parents and surrogates must pass a home fitness and parental fitness investigation undertaken by a social service worker or child welfare agent. They also have to undergo “counseling concerning the effects of the surrogacy.” In addition, the surrogate must prove that she has given birth at least once before and the intended parents must prove that they are infertile or unable to bear a child “without unreasonable risk.” And all parties must undergo “physical examinations and psychological evaluation” and turn records of such over to the court. Only if all of these conditions are acceptably met will the state give people permission to go forward with a surrogacy contract.

Underlying all of this is the idea that women are too dumb or fragile to make decisions about their own bodies and that the state should get to say who’s allowed to form families and under what circumstances. These ideas need to go, as does the idea that economic concerns can render consent invalid.

As Virginia Del. Candi Mundon King (D–Prince William) told her colleagues during the legislative debate, “being economically disadvantaged does not make you any less intelligent. It does not make you any less able to make your own decisions, whether they be financial, health or otherwise. We should be careful not to stigmatize those who are economically disadvantaged or put them into a category that they cannot understand how complicated and deeply personal surrogacy is.”

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Colonial Beach, Virginia | 2018 (ENB/Reason)

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BREAKING: Joseph Yesufu Commits to West Virginia

Published

4 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Press Room

BREAKING: Joseph Yesufu Commits to West Virginia

Late Sunday night, the West Virginia Mountaineers received a commitment from Washington State transfer guard Joseph Yesufu.

Yesufu began his collegiate career at Drake, where he spent two seasons playing for Darian DeVries. In his sophomore season, he averaged 12.8 points per game and parlayed that into an opportunity at the high major level with Kansas. He played two seasons for the Jayhawks, appearing in 69 games in a reserve role. This past year at Washington State, he only saw action in six games before suffering a hip injury.

For his career, Yesufu is averaging 5.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 40% from the field and 31% from three.

He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

READ MORE ABOUT WVU ATHLETICS

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Insider Analysis on New WVU QB Ryder Burton

Kobe Johnson Chooses Transfer Destination

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Virginia Men’s Track & Field Wins First Outright ACC Outdoor Championship

Published

12 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Press Room

Virginia Men’s Track & Field Wins First Outright ACC Outdoor Championship

For the first time in program history, Virginia won the outright ACC Outdoor Men’s Track & Field Championship. 15 years after sharing the conference title with Florida State in 2009, which was the only other time they claimed even a share of the ACC crown, the Cavaliers won the championship all to themselves, holding off rival Virginia Tech by 4.67 points as the meet came down to the final event, but ended with Virginia winning the 2024 ACC Outdoor Men’s Track & Field Championship on Saturday night at Georgia Tech’s George C. Griffin Track & Field Facility in Atlanta.

🗣️ UVA. UVA. UVA. @UVATFCC | #AccomplishGreatness pic.twitter.com/RcK6kK6tn3
— The ACC (@theACC) May 12, 2024

On the first day of competition on Thursday, Virginia notched two podium finishes as Will Anthony took second in the men’s 10,000m in 29:18.80, while John Fay earned a bronze in the men’s hammer throw thanks to a 66.55m throw on his first attempt.

Friday saw UVA’s Nate Mountain and Yasin Sado go 1-2 in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, as Mountain won his second-consecutive title in the event and broke the meet record with a time of 8:30.05. Sado finished in 8:30.78, marking the second year in a row that two Cavaliers have gone first and second in the event. Also on Friday, Ethan Robinson took bronze in the decathlon with 7,435 points, earning a First-Team All-ACC Selection after making the Second Team last year. The UVA men wrapped up day two in second place in the team standings with 52 points, 6.33 points behind first-place Duke.

On the final day of competition on Saturday, Gary Martin and Wes Porter placed second and third, respectively, in the men’s 1500m. Martin finished in 3:40.87 with Porter behind him in 3:42.13, earning two critical podium finishes for the Cavaliers.

Jacob Lemmon earned a silver medal in the men’s discus with a throw of 60.31m on his third attempt, bouncing back after missing last season with an injury. Alex Sherman also picked up a silver medal in the men’s 400m hurdles with a personal-record time of 50.34, the second-fastest mark in program history.

Meanwhile, Will Anthony followed up his silver in the 10,000m with a bronze in the 5000m, finishing third in 13:40.17. Shane Cohen posted yet another podium finish for Virginia, taking bronze in the 800m with a personal record of 1:46.89 thanks to a late surge in the final 100 meters.

Entering the final event of the meet, Virginia sat atop the standings, but led by only four points. A sixth-place finish by Jaden Lyons, Alex Sherman, Gage Gose, and Evans White IV in the 4x400m relay proved to be enough. Virginia Tech won the event, but finished with 102.33 points to UVA’s 107, giving the Cavaliers their first outright conference championship in program history.

The Virginia women had a great showing in Atlanta as well. Margot Appleton captured her second-straight women’s 1500m title with a finish of 4:11.04, three seconds faster than her title run in 2023. Appleton became the first Cavalier to ever win the 1500m title in consecutive seasons (Claire Forbes in 1990 and 1991) and then took bronze in the 5000m, finishing in 15:36.95.

FIU transfer Celia Rifaterra won a silver medal in her ACC Championships debut, taking second in the high jump with a mark of 1.79m.

The Virginia women tied for third with Notre Dame in the team standings with 74 total points.

Final ACC Men’s Team Standings
1. Virginia – 107
2. Virginia Tech – 102.33
3. North Carolina – 102
4. Florida State – 95
5. Miami – 83
6. Clemson – 77.33
7. Duke – 70.33
8. Pittsburgh – 37
9. Notre Dame – 35
10. Syracuse – 30
10. Wake Forest – 30
12. Louisville – 20
13. NC State – 13
14. Georgia Tech – 12
15. Boston College – 5

Final ACC Women’s Team Standings
1. Duke – 133
2. Clemson – 118.5
3. Virginia – 74
3. Notre Dame – 74
5. Florida State – 68
6. Miami – 66
7. Virginia Tech – 63
8. Louisville – 42
9. NC State – 39.5
10. Pittsburgh – 37
10. Wake Forest – 37
12. Georgia Tech – 23
13. North Carolina – 19
14. Syracuse – 18
15. Boston College – 6

As both the Virginia men and women placed above Virginia Tech in the team standings, the Cavaliers earned two more points in the 2023-2024 Commonwealth Clash, which Virginia has already clinched and now leads 14-6.5.

Virginia’s two teams combined for 24 All-ACC performances at the 2024 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships:

UVA Men
First Team: Will Anthony (5000m, 10,000m), John Fay (Hammer Throw), Jacob Lemmon (Discus Throw), Gary Martin (1500m), Nathan Mountain (3000m Steeplechase), Ethan Robinson (Decathlon), Yasin Sado (3000m Steeplechase), Alex Sherman (400m Hurdles), Wes Porter (1500m)
Second Team: Justin Wachtel (10,000m), Tyler Zawatski (Javelin Throw)

UVA Women
First Team: Margot Appleton (1500m, 5000m), Celia Rifaterra (High Jump), Samantha Romano (Pole Vault)
Second Team: Sarah Akpan (100m, 200m), Bree Lumpkin (Shot Put), Camryn Menninger (10,000m), Samantha Romano (Pole Vault), Carly Tarentino (High Jump), Carolina Timm (1500m), Janae Profit (Discus Throw)

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Sometimes the (Virginia) Blues is Just a Passing Bird: Days 60–64 – The Trek

Published

19 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Press Room

Sometimes the (Virginia) Blues is Just a Passing Bird: Days 60–64 – The Trek

Day 60: Niday Shelter to Four Pines Hostel; 16.7 miles

Predictably, after just grazing around my food bag for “dinner” last night, I felt weak by the morning. Sparks gave me one of her GoMacro bars to supplement my breakfast. I’d given her a protein bar the other day, so it felt like a delicious exchange!

Sparks and I hiked a few miles together and came to a gap where trail angel Jason provided cold drinks. There was also a trash can nearby (this is a big deal)! AND Banjo happened to be sitting with Jason, so all of us got to reunite.

Sparks, Banjo, and I hiked together for a while up the mountain to Dragon’s Tooth. Banjo and I hiked a little faster on the climb today and once we were on the ridge line for a while, it started storming. I felt nervous, but we were in a position where it felt like the quickest way out was through.

The thunder subsided by the time we made it to Dragon’s Tooth, then we started heading down the steep rock face toward Four Pines Hostel. I put one trekking pole in my backpack so I’d have a free hand and extended the other to what I like to call “adventure mode.” It was kinda fun — we just took it slowly in the rain.

We saw Ramen Bomb in the distance as we approached Four Pines. I couldn’t wait to hear about his weekend with his professor and reconnect. When we sat down, Sparks’ husband Paul (aka F Minor) presented us with some burritos, chocolate milk, and protein bars!

The evening passed too quickly: I took my first outdoor shower, RBT played mandolin, and Banjo played banjo. We talked with Sparks, F Minor, Buck Wild, and a group of mothers and daughters. I met a crew from Michigan (we outnumbered everyone!) and roasted marshmallows by a huge campfire.

Banjo with banjo

Ramen Bomb Tom with mandolin

Great bonfire! Thanks for capturing the moment, Sparks! 📸

I have a feeling I won’t get much sleep tonight in the bunkhouse, but I’m so excited to finish the Virginia Triple Crown tomorrow!

Day 61: Four Pines Hostel to Lambert’s Meadow Campsite; 16.5 miles

There are places on the AT I’d known about for years, but they seemed like a faraway dream — or even just the seed of an idea. McAfee Knob is one of those places. Maybe it’s silly, but it felt surreal waking up at the hostel knowing I’d hike up to meet McAfee today and finish the Virginia Triple Crown.

After talking for a while with Data and Badger, I walked the 1/3 mile back to trail. It would be another day of few water sources, so RBT and I started the day weighed down with plenty of water from the hostel. Banjo had left already — he has to hike ahead to get to a certain place in time for his aunt’s birthday. We’ll see him again next week.

RBT and I pushed through the heat of exposed, steep pastures and moved up and down ridge lines. Once we got to the parking lot for McAfee Knob, we stopped in the shade for a quick rest to book a hotel in Roanoke.

The climb to McAfee Knob was gradual and (thankfully) shady. We saw a baby rattlesnake as soon as we arrived!

Sorry, Mom!

RBT and I took the classic pictures — McAfee is the most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail, after all — had a snack, then were off to Tinker Cliffs.

Out of all the VA Triple Crown, I think I worked the hardest for Tinker Cliffs. It’s a steep climb going NOBO (the steep part is maybe 1.5–2 miles long?), but now that I have my hiker legs, it wasn’t too bad. These thighs feel like tractors, strong enough to hike and hike and hike even when the rest of me would like to sleep.

Taking in the views at Tinker Cliffs!

There was some light rain on the way up to the cliffs that cleared just in time for some gorgeous golden hour views. After walking along the cliffs for about half a mile, the trail wound back down the mountain to our campsite for the night.

Lambert’s Meadow Campsite is right by a creek. After a few days of long water carries, it feels indulgent to use and drink as much water as we want tonight.

I ate chili ramen with peanut butter and peanuts then drifted off without taking a wet wipe bath. I figured we’ll have a short half day tomorrow with showers at the end of our hike. However, I ended up waking up to give myself a good bird bath anyway. I can’t stand feeling dirty. Am I the cleanest thru-hiker (not platinum blazing) out here? Probably not. But maybe.

Day 62: Lambert’s Meadow Campsite to Daleville; 9.5 miles

Into town we go! I got to enjoy a lovely ridge walk, Mexican food for lunch, and a truly life-giving nap at Roanoke’s Econolodge. RBT and I ventured out for Subway and Wendy’s after sunset and had to walk through the drive-thru lines for both. Weird. Anyway, day 62 provided a top-notch lazy afternoon and a great night’s sleep.

Ridgeline break!

Feed us. Please.

Day 63: Zero in Roanoke

I’ve been looking forward to this day in Roanoke for weeks — Banjo lives in the city and Plantasia told me it’s worth checking out.

After hitting up the hotel breakfast, Ramen and I walked a mile into town, stopping at McDonald’s on the way (I got a strawberry banana smoothie). We also stopped at the post office to ship some winter clothes home. RBT wanted to check out a bookstore, and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever left one empty handed.

Next we went to Walkabout Outfitters where I picked up a new Kula Cloth. Unfortunately, there does indeed come a time where the cloth doesn’t really ever smell clean — even after laundering it. I reached that point about 250 miles in and suffered for a few hundred more. I also bought new Darn Tough socks because one of my pairs had holes worn into the heels, and the other pair was nibbled up by a mouse. I’ll trade them in after trail for new ones.

I picked up some postcards at Chocolate Paper, then wrote on them at Mill Mountain (accompanied by an iced mocha). RBT and I consumed cheese fries and hard kombuchas at Jack Brown’s, then went to a music store because RBT was considering picking up a mandolin for trail. Later on, we met up with my Aunt Jayne and Uncle Ron for dinner.

Currently in my sleeping bag wishing I’d ordered more of these cheese fries when I had the chance.

It was so, so good to spend time with family after my recent bout of homesickness. Ron (aka Splat Man) has hiked long sections of the AT in Maine and New Hampshire, so we all traded trail stories over pizza and wings before heading back to the hotel to continue the conversation there.

I started feeling tired around hiker midnight (9pm), so we parted ways until morning. But not before Jayne gave me a very-much-needed hug/massage. She gives the best hugs.

A good zero, indeed.

Day 64: Daleville to Fullhardt Knob Shelter; 5 miles

Splat Man and Aunt Jayne took us to Cracker Barrel in the morning, then drove us to BeeChill hostel to pick up my new shoes (!). Aunt Jayne surprised me by paying for them — I’ll think of her often as I walk the trail over the next few hundred miles.

So new!

It was time.

We drove to one more outfitter in Daleville before resupplying at Kroger. I was feeling sad about saying goodbye to my aunt and uncle and didn’t have motivation to hike. Ramen encouraged me to walk just five miles to the first shelter; sometimes it’s hard to leave town.

If it’s any indication of how bummed I was feeling earlier, I had to pull out my list of reasons for hiking the AT for the second time on my thru-hike today. I needed to remember my “whys,” what I hope to learn from the experience, and how I’d feel if I quit. Maybe I’ll share them with you here one day.

Ramen Bomb and I hiked up the five miles to Fullhardt Knob Shelter and stopped there for the night. We needed to apply permethrin to some of our gear and clothes and decided it was a “smiles over miles” kind of day. Plus there’s cell service here, so Ramen can watch the Yankees and I can schedule this blog. Don’t judge!

Also passed this sign today!

Over dinner, we chatted with a group of guys hiking part of Virginia together who met in college 30 years ago. They offered to take our trash and made us s’mores. Trail magic.

Before bed, RBT and I had some wine and dwelled in the sunshine. We hear the Northern Lights may make an appearance — maybe I’ll actually fully get out of my tent to pee tonight so I can look up at the sky.