“The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman’s life, to her wellbeing and dignity. It’s a decision she must make for herself”. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I was both angry and sad last Friday when the Supreme Court ruling was announced. There is no question that we are going backwards. My granddaughters will have less rights than me.
How did we get here? The Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v Wade should come as no surprise. I’m not just talking about the leaked opinion in May. I’m talking about the state level restrictions that have been enacted over the past decade leading to Friday’s ruling.
A piece in the New York Times on June 25, “How Did Roe Fall? Before a Decisive Ruling, a Powerful Red Wave”, by Kate Zernike laid it out clearly starting back with the 2010 elections. The fact that 1380 state level restrictions were enacted in the 50 years since Roe v Wade was decided and that 46% of them were since 2011 tells the story. It is a long article but worth reading.
Aside from understanding the recent history covered in this article, the takeaway is clear – your vote matters. It matters at every level from local elections to the national election for president. While more Americans voted in 2020 than in any other presidential election in 120 years, 80 million people didn’t vote. Local candidates and state legislators win elections oftentimes with only a small percentage of voters bothering to vote.
The health equity issues of this ruling are significant. The ruling puts the health and safety of women at risk with a disproportionate impact on women of color and the financially disadvantaged. Many leaders have recognized this in their statements of support for reproductive rights and the actions they are taking to provide services.
Governors in blue states are stepping up with executive orders protecting reproductive rights of their residents and those who travel from other states. I’ve seen statements from my Republican Governor Charlie Baker in Massachusetts, and Democrat governors in Minnesota and California.
Professional health organizations are stepping up to declare their support for reproductive rights. Organizations representing healthcare professionals who specialize in the provision of maternal care released this joint statement.
Health providers are stating their continued commitment to providing reproductive services. I’ve seen statements from Mass General Brigham, UChicago Medicine and many more.
Major employers are stepping up and stating that their employee benefits will cover travel to a state for those employees living in states with restrictions. This includes Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Disney, JPMorgan Chase, Nike, and many more.
While I was raised a Catholic and went to 12 years of Catholic schools, my faith tradition has been Unitarian Universalism (UU) since my early 30s. The UUA President, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray released this statement on our commitment to reproductive justice. I am proud to be a UU.
The attack on our rights continues.
What is next? Birth control, same sex marriage? This is not just idle speculation. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote, “In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.” The rulings referred to guarantee the right to contraception, same-sex relationships, and same-sex marriages.
From a young age I learned that human rights matter. I believe that reproductive rights are women’s rights. I believe that women’s rights are human rights. I will continue to support candidates who share my values. And I will continue to vote in every election at every level.
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Michael Watson on said:
Thank you. I am appalled by the organized assault on fundamental human rights. We who believe in and support human rights must be more motivated than those who don’t. Vote your conscience, from local elections to national.
Sue Schade on said:
Michael, well said! Can’t say it enough, vote your values from local to national elections.