From violent protests to attacking reproductive health facilities, anti-abortion activists across the country are trying all they can to infringe on people’s rights. But banning abortion is not going to be where they stop. Several doctors have expressed fear that after abortion policies, in vitro fertilization (IVF) will be the next target, and they were right. Leaked audio confirms that some anti-abortion activists do plan to target fertility treatments. According to audio obtained by ProPublica, in at least one state—Tennessee—abortion activists are pressuring to uphold an abortion ban and target other reproductive rights.
The audio, including representatives from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, is from a webinar last month hosted by Tennessee Right to Life for state GOP lawmakers.
“I implore you, please don’t say we only cast this law because we never thought Roe was going to be overturned,” one person in the recording said.
Campaign Action
Per the audio, anti-abortion activists wanted state lawmakers to keep the state’s current abortion ban in place with no exceptions.
As of this report, the ban is one of the strictest in the country—no specific exceptions are allowed. However, doctors can plead their case if they conduct an abortion under the premise that a mother’s life was in danger. Those who are unable to do so and perform an abortion can face a felony that carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, ProPublica reported.
“A doctor can make their case that what they did is justifiable,” said state police director Katie Glenn with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America on the webinar. “So, it’s not that they didn’t violate the text of the statute, it’s that they have a justifiable reason to do so, and that reason you’ve defined very narrowly is to save her life. To prevent an organ system from failing.”
With the real-world implications of the laws settling in, some lawmakers, even Republicans, have expressed the need to “clarify” the ban and offer exceptions, including rape, incest, severe fetal anomalies, and cases where the pregnant patient’s life or health are at risk.
However, anti-abortion activists want lawmakers to go further.
“Maybe your caucus gets to a point next year, two years from now, three years from now, where you do want to talk about IVF,” SBA Pro-Life America VP of State Affairs Stephen Billy said in response to questions about other restrictions, like regulations on IVF and contraception. “And how to regulate it in a more ethical way, or deal with some of those contraceptive issues. But I don’t think that’s the conversation that you need to have now. I would not recommend having it now in the context of your current ‘pro-life’ law.”
During the meeting, the group discussed released model legislation suggesting the want of similar language adopted across the country, “not weakened by exceptions.”
Legal counsel and lobbyist for Tennessee Right to Life urged lawmakers not to rewrite the state’s ban to be more clear and instead wait for backlash against the law to die down.
“We need to defend this law,” he said.
“It’s not something that we stumbled into. It wasn’t just a PR move or to stoke the fires of our base. This was a law that we knew would come into effect, hopefully sooner rather than later, and we wanted Tennessee to be prepared.”
In a statement about the ProPublica revelation, a spokesperson for SBA Pro-Life America said: “The original article cherrypicked quotes from a briefing to further their agenda. The law is direct and unambiguous.”
Sen. Richard Briggs, a heart surgeon who considers himself “pro-life” but does not want to get involved in abortion politics any further, told ProPublica that while he supported the law before, the consequences of it have him considering exceptions.
“They really don’t want me talking when I bring up these medical issues,” Briggs said in regard to meeting with anti-abortion activists and lawmakers in support of abortion bans. “Because the medical issues are a lot more complex.”
Want to ensure a healthy Democratic turnout for the December 6 runoff in Georgia? Volunteer with Vote Forward to write get-out-the-vote letters before the mailing date on November 29.