"I've always been personally pro-life, but for me there was a great question about whether or not government should intrude in that decision. And when I ran for office, I said I'd protect the law as it was, which is effectively a pro-choice position. About two years ago when we were studying cloning in our state, I said, look, we have gone too far; it's a brave new world mentality that Roe v. Wade has given us; and I change my mind ... I won't apologize to anybody for becoming pro-life."
On Meet the Press, when asked what he would do as President, he responded that, "The first step, in my view, is that Roe v. Wade be overturned. And ultimately, as an aspirational goal, I would love it if America came to a point where we're not today, where the people of America would welcome a society that did not have abortion. But that's not where we are, and so I'm not promoting or fighting for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion in all 50 states. I am fighting for an overturning of Roe v. Wade. And the consequences? They would be like the consequences associated with the bill relating to partial birth abortion, which, of course, does not punish the woman."
As a governor, Romney has no voting record, but he has taken mixed positions on reproductive health issues. In 2002 he endorsed legalization of RU-486, but in 2005 he vetoed legislation that would have ensured emergency contraception for rape victims.
Romney drew criticism from anti-choice groups by signing legislation in 2005 to expand family planning services, including emergency contraception.
"Our nation's highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us."
Reducing maternal deaths from unsafe abortion is one of the most straight-forward public health problems to remedy. But this can never be fully realized unless governments start including abortion in realistic approaches to protecting women's health.
Heather Corinna brings Scarleteen's popular sexual health advice column to RH Reality Check! This week, Heather talks to a young woman who doesn't like being a girl.
Conservative activists are gearing up to enact state laws to restrict abortion. Colorado is once again serving as a political incubator in yet another attempt to chip away at Roe v. Wade, this time in the form of an amendment stating that life begins at conception.
Pregnancies, both planned and unplanned, happen to trans folks, too. It is imperative for reproductive health care providers to seek appropriate education and training in order to be able to provide comprehensive care to these patients.
Given the alarmingly sexist and racist undercurrents rearing their heads in this presidential election, it's not illogical to look at "Iron Man" and see a reflection, and perpetuation, of prejudices that just won't die.
The Minnesota House last Wednesday passed a bill that would allow the University of Minnesota to use state funds to conduct research using embryonic stem cells. The measure prompted a flurry of amendments by anti-choice Republicans designed to derail the bill.
Last week, nearly 80 conservative groups led by the Family Research Council asked President Bush to strip family planning clinics of their eligibility for Title X funds if they refer patients for abortions or share facilities with abortion providers -- which would bring the global gag rule home.
In Colombia, young women may be getting pregnant intentionally -- but not necessarily because they want to become mothers. Sexuality education advocates differ on how best to tailor a pregnancy prevention and sexual health curriculum to reach Colombian teens.
On May 26, the Wanderlust reproductive justice bicycle caravan will set off on an 1800 mile journey from New Orleans to New York City, meeting with and learning from reproductive justice activists along the way.
In honor of the Back Up Your Birth Control with Emergency Contraception (EC) Campaign, Pharmacy Access Partnership and RH Reality Check teamed up to launch an essay contest open to young people 14-24 years of age. Read the winning entry!
Have Safe Haven laws -- in which women can lawfully relinquish their infants within 30 days of birth -- become a substitute for universal health care and comprehensive sexuality education?
Illinois's reproductive justice advocates are backing one of the most comprehensive reproductive health bills the state has ever seen. And they're bringing in new allies for the fight.
