Thoughts on Overturn of Roe

Standing in front of the Utah Capitol building, I am showing my pregnant belly with "My Choice" written on my stomach.

I am pro choice. As a healthcare provider I don’t think that would come as a surprise to you. Autonomy over our bodies, including our reproductive systems, is essential to overall physical health and mental health. 

The news of the overturning of Roe at the Supreme Court last Friday June 24 was upsetting for me as it was for so many. As a woman. As a pregnant person and soon-to-be mother. As a citizen of the US but, more troubling, a citizen of the state of Utah…. I feel fear and anger about the ruling. Here in Utah our lawmakers have created a “trigger law” to go into effect after Roe which will greatly limit access to abortion but also potentially have ripple affects not yet even considered. 

So, you could have gotten all of that information from a news post— what makes my take different? Well, first of all I’m a uterus owner and those of us with uteruses know the fear and concern over the health and well-being of our reproductive organs. Having safe choices about the care of about my body parts is really important! Being a healthcare provider I am acutely aware of the importance of access to proper healthcare for my patients and the population at large. Second of all I am pregnant and as a pregnant person I would never, ever wish an unwanted pregnancy on someone. This is HARD work and being pregnant does not magically turn someone into a loving parent. There’s a lot that goes into it beyond the baby developing over 40 weeks…. Money, time, MONEY, healthcare access, safety, housing, access to food, support of family and community, etc. That doesn't even touch on the resources necessary to raise that child. Third of all my husband and I used assistive reproductive technology (ART) to get pregnant. I hope to share more of this story in the future, but for now I’d like to say - it’s tough and these new restrictions could make awesome outcomes like our little girl more difficult, impossible or even life-threatening for those trying to conceive. That includes me if we decide we want to try to get pregnant again in the future. That is absolutely heartbreaking. 

So back to Friday. I was upset for me, my unborn daughter, for other women, for other folks with uteruses, for poor folks, for partners, for men, for children… for everyone who has benefited from birth control, abortion and the right to bodily control (that's pretty much everyone!). I made a sign and went to a rally at the Utah state capitol. It felt so good to stand in solidarity with other people who felt the same way. It felt good to cry and shout and show this is important to me. 

What now? Well things are a little shaky right now in Utah. As of yesterday 6/27 the courts have granted a stay for the next two weeks on abortions and then after that - I don’t know. But, I do know that there are many local organizations which could use additional financial support -- here the best option is the  Utah Abortion Fund 

Thanks for reading and considering how abortion = healthcare. Abortion is a healthcare option and should always be available for you, me and future generations.