Spain’s free fertility treatment will now be extended to all women, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. “[The move] is likely to benefit some 8,500 people,” according to The Washington Post. “It was applauded by LGBTQ advocacy groups that have long called for the public health system to pay for procedures such as in vitro fertilization.”
For women — especially lesbians
The initiative means lesbian couples and single women gain reproductive rights. “The measure had long been demanded by LGBT rights groups and is part of the Socialist-led government’s drive for equality, which has also seen a record number of women appointed to the Cabinet,” reports the Associated Press.
Lesbian couples and singles did have the right to free fertility treatment along with heterosexual couples for a period in the past. However, “six years ago the conservative Popular Party government in power at the time limited it to heterosexual women who have a partner, forcing others to pay for private treatment. Many of Spain’s regional governments refused to enforce that policy, however.”
“Health Minister Carolina Darias signed the order at a ceremony attended by activists, saying the step aimed to put an end to discrimination in the public health system.” She said the move was a “restitution of rights — rights that never should have been denied.”
The president of Spain’s federation of LGBT rights’ group, Uge Sangil, echoed Carolina’s sentiments, “Let no one doubt that expanding reproductive rights is expanding human rights.”
Necessary exclusions
Men that aren’t in a relationship with a female, gay or not, are still excluded from free fertility treatment in Spain. That’s not a bad thing: it protects women from the unethical process of surrogacy.
Surrogacy is illegal in Spain. It is “strongly opposed” by the Socialist party as well as the right wing. A source from the Ministry of Justice told Alliance Vita that surrogacy is “used to exploit women’s bodies in exchange for money.” Despite this, The Ciudadanos (liberal moderate party in Spain) are in favor.
Due to surrogacy being banned in Spain, 12+ babies a month are registered in Ukraine by/for Spanish sponsors. “Ukrainian law permits surrogacy for heterosexual couples who are either Ukrainian nationals or foreigners. Prices are known to be cheaper than elsewhere, even though they reach 50,000 €, which includes a compensation – which is not fixed by contract – for the surrogate mother. The law in Ukraine states that the baby belongs to the “intended parents” or sponsors, and the surrogate mother has no parental rights from the moment of conception.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who leads the Socialist Workers’ Party — and has one of the highest percentages (60%) of female cabinet ministers — vows to abolish prostitution for similar reasons surrogacy is outlawed in Spain. At the end of a three-day Socialist congress, he said, “Out of this congress emerges a commitment I will implement. We will advance by abolishing prostitution, which enslaves women.”
