Happy Anniversary, Roe!
Today is the 37th anniversary of Roe v Wade. I have been lucky enough to grow up in a time where the majority of the population believes that a woman has the right to choose what is best for herself and her body, and that the laws mostly support that right. I realize now that it is an incredibly lucky time for women to live in.
People often mention that the post-Roe generation of women don’t appreciate the importance of the right to chose, simply because we haven’t had it any other way. Older feminists worry that when it comes to women’s reproductive health, we post Roe-ers aren’t invested in the same way, are disinterest in the cause.
Last night, I was able to attend a pre Roe celebration with many of the leaders of the Minnesota Pro Choice community. But even better, I got to see a room full of many, many post Roe women, celebrating and recognizing the victories that the pre Roe generation won for us.
If I’ve learned nothing else from my new job, it’s that reproductive health is not just one victory, however, and that while we may celebrate the greater wins, our right to maintain and treat our own bodies are still being chipped away one by one. From choosing when to have a child, to choosing how to treat a loss, to deciding how to deal with the results of a physical attack or a genetic abnormality, our options are being limited daily. While we are losing the right to make our own personal decisions, “conscientious” doctors and hospitals are gaining the right to decide with they want to respect our choices. That cannot continue to happen.
We MUST trust women. We do not make our decisions lightly.
Today, I’ll be over at RH Reality Check, covering Roe Anniversary events, writing a little about my personal story, and watching the first day of the trial of Scott Roeder, the man who murdered Dr, George Tiller in cold blood while he was ushering at his church.
In the meantime, a statement from Planned Parenthood:
On the 37th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) reaffirms it’s commitment to reproductive justice and it’s efforts to ensure that all women and families have access to the health care they need. We recognize that in order for women to participate fully in our society, they must have the ability to make personal decisions about their reproductive health.
“Today, we ask again, that all those truly interested in the health and well-being of women and families move past divisive debates and join us in our every day work to strengthen public health, access and preventive care. We have a commitment to the health and well being of those in the communities we serve that is more powerful and positive than one day of protest,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of PPMNS.
PPMNS works every day toward real solutions. Ninety-five percent of the care Planned Parenthood provides is preventive and primary. Last year in Minnesota alone, PPMNS provided more than 300,000 units of contraception, nearly 58,000 STD tests, more than 20,000 breast cancer screenings and over 17,000 cervical cancer screenings to women and families in need of health care in 27 clinics throughout our region.
Last year in communities across our region, Planned Parenthood provided more than 65,000 women, men and teens with health care and education they need to build healthier, brighter futures.
