This is a big victory for pro-choice advocates who believe that it's a woman's right to make her own reproductive decisions. The state of California now requires sites called
pregnancy crisis centers/CPCs, to offer information on how clients might locate abortion services. Unlike the folks at Planned Parenthood who relay all options to clients, CPCs have their own agenda and most are anti-choice extremists. They use
"bait and switch" tactics like using big signs that say "Free Pregnancy Tests!" to lure in pregnant women who make appointments for counseling. The CPCs
give out false, misleading, and fear-based information in hopes of keeping a woman from choosing abortion—even when terminating a pregnancy might be in her best interest.
California aims to help stop these misleading practices with their new bill called the Reproductive FACT Act. Current laws under the Reproductive Privacy Act "give every individual the right to privacy and reproductive decisions. Current laws also state that sites shall not interfere with a woman's right to chose and they specify the circumstances under which the performance of an abortion is deemed unauthorized."
The new bill extends the existing laws by stating licensed facilities are legally obligated to give a notice to clients, as to where they can find public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services, prenatal care, and abortion. If centers/clinics do no relay these options to pregnant women, they will be subject to penalties and fines under the law. The purpose of the bill is to help ensure that California residents make their own reproductive health care decisions, know their rights, and understand the health care options and services available to them.
Of course the anti-choicers are angry as all get out and not going to take it, so they filed suit against the state of California saying:
“A government that tells you what you can’t say is dangerous, but a government that tells you what you must say – under threat of severe punishment – is terrifying,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman.
No, a government that interferes with a woman's constitutional right to choose what best for herself, her body, her family and her future—that is what is terrifying.
The anti-choicers say:
“The law is also impermissibly vague…[and] violates federal statutory law… "
No, I'd say it's pretty clear.
The anti-choicers say:
“For years, abortionists have preyed on women and girls to generate profits,” added ADF Litigation Counsel Elissa Graves. “Now, pro-abortion politicians are trying to give women fewer choices by requiring pregnancy center employees, under threat of punitive fines, to promote and refer women for abortions."
Wait, what? Saying this law gives women "fewer choices," when it actually gives them more options, is asinine, ridiculous, and intentionally twisting the truth. But then that is part of what extremists do. And in this case, that's what attorneys do. So who's really generating profits here? And, pray tell, what are "abortionists?" If referring to licensed abortion health care providers, these are people risk their lives every day to give a women options that may define the course of her life.
They are modern-day heroes and some have been murdered. No, those who will profit the most are the butchers and quacks who come out of the gutters to offer scared girls/women unsafe and illegal abortions. As many know, laws don't prevent abortions, they only prevent safe abortions. Every year,
47,000 women die around the world from unsafe abortions.
Cheers to California lawmakers and voters who saw this law through. May other states follow their lead. The battle for reproductive freedom is an ongoing struggle that will most likely continue past our lifetimes. We continue this fight for our daughters, and granddaughters, because our mothers, grandmothers, and male/female pro-choice supporters did the same for us. There are many ways we can support reproductive rights. Here are 12 websites/Facebook pages of large and small pro-choice organizations you can visit/join now. They offer ways for women to help and be helped.
Planned Parenthood
NARAL/Pro-Choice America
NOW
NAF/National Abortion Federation
UniteWomen.org
Abortion.com
Fight Laws Against Women
We Are FUSE
Abigail Adams Brigade
Pro-Choice Liberals
Stop Patriarchy Now
Center for Reproductive Rights
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The Guttmacher Institute is an excellent source of current reproductive rights legislation.
Special thanks to Kelly McEvers. To read more of her story, visit
NPR.