As a state legislator and as a doula, I feel the weight of this moment profoundly.
I want everyone who needs abortion care to know that I will never stop fighting back against anti-choice extremists.#Abortion is our right, our bodies must be ours to control.
— Representative Park Cannon (@Cannonfor58) June 24, 2022
The Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, which protected the right to choose, in their ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. LGBTQ elected officials responded to the news and are calling for action against the regression in social progress by the Supreme Court. Here are some of their statements…
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg:
“For 50 years, this nation respected a woman’s constitutional right to make her own decisions. Today the Court held that government officials will decide instead.”
For 50 years, this nation respected a woman’s constitutional right to make her own decisions. Today the Court held that government officials will decide instead.
Our work continues: to ensure that in our lifetimes, American rights & freedoms will be protected, not withdrawn.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 24, 2022
Many are calling on their state legislatures to codify the right to abortion.
Governor Kate Brown of Oregon released statement condemning the decision saying, “You cannot ban abortion, you can only ban safe abortions — and this disgraceful Supreme Court decision will undoubtedly put many people’s lives at risk, in addition to stripping away a constitutional right that disproportionately affects women and has been settled law for most of our lifetimes.”
Governor Brown also joined with the Governors of California and Washington to form a multi-state commitment to protecting abortion access.
Abortion is health care, and no matter who you are or where you come from, Oregon doesn’t turn away anyone seeking health care.
This disgraceful Supreme Court decision will put lives at risk and strips away a constitutional right has been settled law for most of our lifetimes.
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) June 24, 2022
Governor Jared Polis of Colorado, who codified abortion rights in the state in April, spoke out against the Court’s alarming decision saying, “state leadership matters now more than ever and in Colorado we will not retreat to an archaic era where the powerful few controlled the freedoms over our bodies and health decisions.”
Coloradans do not want politicians making their healthcare decisions. We will continue to choose freedom, stand against government control over our bodies, and will not retreat to an archaic era where the powerful few controlled the freedoms over our bodies and health decisions.
— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) June 24, 2022
The LGBTQ Attorneys General have made it clear that they will fight to protect women’s rights in the face of this decision. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel explains that it is dangerous to undo 50 years of precedent, saying it is “creating extraordinary upheaval in the American legal system; and putting at risk other individual rights that generations of Americans fought to secure and preserve.” AG Nessel has ensured that abortions will not be prosecuted in her state and determines that future laws that intrude into our bedrooms and doctor’s appointments are unconstitutional.
Although we knew this was coming after the leak of Justice Alito’s draft decision, it doesn’t make it any less shocking or unnerving that Americans will lose a fundamental right they’ve had for nearly my entire lifetime. 🧵/8 https://t.co/6FkqHzTIjt
— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) June 24, 2022
Massachusetts Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey noted, “Abortion will determine whether or not a woman is able to go to school, stay in school, join the workforce, leave the workforce. So, I want to be clear that this is an assault and an afront achieved by right-wing idealogues who sit on the Supreme Court.”
I promise you this: Massachusetts will remain a beacon of hope where everyone can access the care and opportunity they deserve. pic.twitter.com/0Y9UKUJodY
— Maura Healey (@maura_healey) June 25, 2022
Many of our LGBTQ members of Congress also took a stance against the decision, with many calling for other methods to combat further regressive decisions from the court. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that she and 33 other Democratic Senators wrote a letter to President Biden urging him to fight for women’s reproductive rights.
An activist and extreme #SCOTUS has overturned #RoeVWade and I have joined 33 Democratic Senators in a letter to @POTUS urging bold action to protect the reproductive freedoms of women. We cannot stand idly by as Republicans rip away women’s rights. https://t.co/bj1D48GpKm
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) June 27, 2022
U.S. Representative Mark Takano, among others, noted that unsafe abortions will now happen in states with trigger-laws and anti-abortion laws on the books. And as U.S. Representative Sharice Davids pointed out, many states will neglect “instances of rape, incest, or the mother’s life being at risk” in their quest to outlaw abortion.
You can't ban abortion.
You can only ban safe abortion.
— Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) June 24, 2022
Today's Supreme Court decision endangers the lives of women in Kansas and around the country while providing no protections in instances of rape, incest, or the mother’s life being at risk.
We have a lot of work ahead of us, but one thing's for sure – you can't count me out yet! pic.twitter.com/tRV1bi4W5T
— Rep. Sharice Davids (@RepDavids) June 24, 2022
U.S. Representative Mondaire Jones and Virginia Delegate Danica Roem urged young people to get engaged in politics on MSNBC. Watch the full clip here:
"You have step up and you have to get engaged": Rep. Mondaire Jones, first Black openly gay member of Congress, and Del. Danica Roem, first transgender person elected to Virginia General Assembly, give advice to young people in wake of civil rights battles https://t.co/3qVQba8gw4 pic.twitter.com/8Xez3q4Gcc
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 27, 2022
LGBTQ state legislators are also taking a stand and working to ensure reproductive justice in their states remains. Here are just some examples of the work they are doing:
When extremists in Nebraska attempted to ban abortion earlier this year, state Senator Megan Hunt filibustered the bill to stop them. Now, she’s fighting to ensure another attempt doesn’t pass in Nebraska.
Heading into a special session to ban abortion in NE, medical assns + their lobbyists are negotiating with anti-abortion politicians.
If they reach a deal, they should know they won't escape explicit and public responsibility for an abortion ban just because they're not elected.
— Senator Megan Hunt (@NebraskaMegan) June 29, 2022
Florida state Representative Michele Rayner called the ruling a “Stonewall moment… a moment to decide who we are going to be” during a pro-abortion rally. Watch her full speech here:
This is a Stonewall moment. This is a Selma moment. This is the moment where we MUST decide who we are going to be. What we are going to do. Are we going to go war for our freedom or are we going to lay down and let them take it?
Y’all know where to find me- with #ThePeople. pic.twitter.com/HSDT1WMnLn
— Michele Rayner (She/They/Tired) (@micheleforfl) June 25, 2022
The fight to restore reproductive justice has only just begun. Our LGBTQ elected officials know what is at stake and know how to fight for our freedoms and equality for all.
