So...where do I start? I think many of you on IF Island are probably aware of the recent controversy around comments made by fashion icons Dolce & Gabbana in an interview for an Italian magazine, where they called babies created from IVF "chemical babies," and "synthetic," created from, "wombs for rent." They are quoted to have said that, "the only family is the traditional one. Life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed. One is the family." (My source here is the Hollywood Reporter, my source for all news. JK. But seems like they probably have this one right.)
If you haven't heard about this, welcome to the circus and try not to let other people's ignorance get you too fired up. I'm fired up enough. So is Sir Elton John (who has two kids via gestational surrogate) and his buddies. He's started a #boycottdolcegabbana campaign on twitter, and while most of us who've ever lived on IF Island are probably not in a position to actually boycott D&G because, let's be real here, when all your "disposable income" is being disposed of on shots and doctor appointments, not many of us can sport a D&G purse and matching shoes. But we can boycott in theory.
I've been trying to figure out what has upset me more. The actual comments made by these two idiots, the fact that much of the world thinks this way, or the idea that only when negative, hateful comments are made is there a conversation about alternative family building. Perhaps all of the above.
Noah and I decided to make our documentary, One More Shot, because we wanted to help this conversation about making modern families happen in a way that was positive. We want to show that all people deserve to have a family and that there are miraculous technologies that can help. We wanted to show the realities of infertility and normalize the children created from ART. We want an open dialogue so people can be educated. We want to show that babies made in this alternative way are not "chemical" or "synthetic," but normal, healthy and beautiful. Unless Momo comes out and her skin is polyester, I think I can confidently say I'm right about this.
While Noah and I didn't set out to jam ourselves into a controversial conversation about traditional family values, modern science, ethics and religion, politics and health care rights, we know that ART brings up all of these issues, and honestly we are proud that we can be a voice. We set out to make a family in 2010. In about a week (OMG) we (and by we I mean me) are going to give birth to our baby girl, conceived through embryo donation. It been a long journey to get to this point, and a journey we are excited to be able to share.
Please help us reach our fundraising goal in the next two weeks, and if anyone has Elton John's contact info, send along our trailer. :) I'm off to go cut up all my Dolce and Gabbana ballgowns.
INDIEGOGO: http://igg.me/at/onemoreshot
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OneMoreShotFilm
FILM WEBSITE: www.onemoreshotfilm.com
TWITTER: @onemoreshotdoc
Great post! I just watched your video and it made me cry a LOT! We haven't filmed anything but I your tears looked so much like mine that it made me feel everything again. It's a great video. thanks for sharing it.
Posted by: e. | March 18, 2015 at 09:09 AM
I honestly just laughed at their comments, nothing synthetic about the one year old that is currently tearing around my house!
And one week or so until Momo?!? Holy moly lady, crazy!! She'll be here before you know it! Hoping everything goes smoothly and safely for you both! Xx
Posted by: Samantha | March 17, 2015 at 04:54 PM
Thank you for writing about this. Reading people's responses to the D&G interview has been really painful. IF and infertility treatments are poorly understood by many people. People espousing adoption as an IVF alternative has been particularly painful to me. I wish it was that easy, that I could magically adopt a child when I wanted to. It is so hard to explain how painful and challenging IF is to someone who hasn't experienced it. Seeing how D&G sympathizers perceive IF makes me really grateful to those like you who shine a light on what this struggle is really like. I can't wait to share One More Shot with my family when it is finished.
Posted by: Anne | March 17, 2015 at 02:55 PM
As if the world cares what their stance is on ART and adoption by gay couples....sorry D&G, your hatred and ignorance is being completely drowned out by the overwhelming joy and love I feel towards my "synthetic" baby girl.
(PS I'm sure you have seen it already but the "womb transplant baby" blows my mind! Science is so amazing!)
Posted by: Corynn | March 17, 2015 at 01:36 PM