Remembering Roe
Remembering Roe: Our work is not yet done A note from our Field Director, Christine Sloane: Thirty-six years ago today, the Supreme Court issued what became its most contested judgement; Roe v. Wade. The landmark decision, which is based on the right to privacy, dictates that the decision to have an abortion is between herself and her doctor. State laws that restricted abortion in the first trimester were invalidated automatically. It’s been over three decades and pro-choice advocates have been able to successfully beat back many attempts to overturn or undermine this ruling- including the recent attempt by South Dakota to make abortion illegal except for in cases of rape or incest. However, our work is not yet finished. Not only does Roe still hang in the balance, NARAL Pro-Choice America recently rated our state a D+ for reproductive justice (see for the reasons why). http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in_your_state/who-decides/state-profiles/north-carolina.html The right to choose is meaningless if one does not have actual access to that choice. Although Roe does not cover all aspects of the reproductive health spectrum, it does bring to mind all of the choices a woman may face; when to reproduce, when not to, how many children to bear, and whether or not to take birth control (and it what form), to name just a few. Inherent in these choices is access and education. To make an informed decision we must have all the facts. We must also be able to obtain the desired services once a conclusion is reached. In North Carolina, we’re still not getting the facts. More than 90% of our schools adhere to Abstinence-only education, which denies medically accurate comprehensive sex education to our students. The new HHS regulations allow pharmacists and doctors to deny services- even prescriptions to widely used drugs like the Pill- based upon their own personal beliefs. If one does not live in a relatively metro area within this state, one may not have access to a clinic that performs abortions. At NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, we fought a hard campaign to ensure that our pharmacies stock Plan B, an over the counter drug, but our Emergency Rooms still aren’t required to keep it on hand. Roe v. Wade allows the right to abortion and privacy in reproductive health matters from the federal level, but it can’t stop decisive state regulations that restrict access and education. A few days ago, we witnessed an historic event. President Obama has indeed allowed us all to breathe a deep sigh of relief. However, the President has made it clear: his election is not the end of the fight. It is the beginning. Let’s see it through together and make North Carolina a truly safe state for women’s reproductive rights. Join NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina today and help us make our choices meaningful, available, and real.
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