In recent years, the antichoice constituency has been rather brilliant at chipping away at abortion rights. From 2011-2013, we saw more abortion restrictions enacted than in the entire previous decade (205 to be exact), and now, only two months into 2014, legislators are busy trying to beat that record.

For quite some time, it has felt like the prochoice community is fighting a losing battle; no matter how much we protest, the antichoicers seem to protest louder. Their voices and views are habitually better represented in Congressional hearings, on the sidewalks and in the media. But that is changing.

According to a recent Bloomberg news report,

Lawmakers are pushing back after a record number of laws since 2010 forced dozens of clinics to close and made it harder for women to terminate pregnancies or prevent them in the first place. Backers see the movement as a winning election strategy for the Democratic Party as it presents itself as supportive of women.

Fifty-one provisions have been introduced in 14 states, compared with 32 in six states about this time last year.

While it’s unlikely that we will be able to reverse the antichoice course in one legislative session, these bills represent our tenacity and are an indicator of our refusal to sit back and watch our hard-fought rights be further eroded. After years of setbacks and attacks, the prochoice community is reclaiming its power as voters and legislators. We will not stand for political interference in women’s right to privacy and healthcare, and are determined to regain lost ground — and then some.

We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more prochoice efforts and wins, and will happily report on them as they emerge!

Categories: Politics

Tags: Abortion, antichoice, prochoice