Blog For Choice

Happy Roe V. Wade Anniversary! What better way to celebrate the return to the Red Basement than a blog for Choice? Roe Rally at the Montana Capital Today at 1:00 PM!

Kathy and I have fought tirelessly for the last few years to ensure that our sisters here in Montana have the right to access reproductive health care of any variety. While this battle has had its highs and lows, it is days like today, Roe V. Wade 36th anniversary that make us sigh and smile.

36 years of saving women's lives.

36 years of ensuring that women have the right to choose health care that is appropriate for themselves, their families and their gods.

I have a son now and this morning as I sit on the floor of his bedroom and type this (he is busy unpacking his basket of books) I appreciate now more than ever the freedom of choice. I am so lucky to have carried to term a very healthy baby. The pregnancy went swimmingly and now every day I am blessed with dirty diapers, crying, smiles, naps, noisy toys, and nursing.

Someone I love very much was not so lucky. After trying FOREVER to get pregnant, they found out that 20 some weeks into the pregnancy that the baby boy in her belly was missing substantial organs including part of his heart. 0% chance of survival outside of his momma. Without Roe she would have had to carry that baby to term. While her options seemed so grim, she can now focus on trying again to have a healthy baby. My heart is still broken for her, and will be forever.

This is why it makes me insanely angry to hear the right to lifers (AKA mouth breathers) talk about women who have abortions as irresponsible teenagers using them as birth control. Or they claim that women who have to make this brutal decision are heartless and callus and compare it to choosing a hair or nail color. Now we all know that is not true.

I have seen these people, I have stared them in the eyes, they don't care about saving lives, if they did, they would be fighting side by side with us to prevent unplanned pregnancies, or guaranteeing all women's access to affordable health care especially pre-natal care. But oh no, it is the opposite.

There I go, focusing on the negative. Let us look toward the future and say thank you to all of the reproductive justice advocates for ensuring that all of us can manage our own freedom. Now, let's hope that Obama celebrates the anniversary of Roe to reverse the Global Gag Rule!