ACLU’s Ohio ballot initiative includes abortion and child ‘sex change’ surgeries.
An ACLU-Backed Measure Sparks Controversy in Ohio
An American Civil Liberties Union-backed measure in Ohio has stirred up a heated debate among parents and activists. The measure, which has garnered enough signatures to make it onto the ballot, is causing concern due to its potential implications for parental consent and reproductive decisions.
Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom Rally Support
Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, the organization behind the drive, proudly announced that they collected over 700,000 signatures by the July 5 ballot access deadline. This impressive number far surpassed the required threshold of 413,487 signatures, ensuring that the measure will be included on Ohioans’ ballots on Election Day in November 2023.
“The ACLU paid out-of-state signature collectors to lie to Ohioans about their dangerous amendment that will strip parents of their rights, permit minors to undergo sex change operations without their parents’ knowledge or consent, and allow painful abortion on demand through all nine months,” said Amy Natoce, press secretary for Protect Women Ohio, a group opposed to the measure. “The ACLU’s attempts to hijack Ohio’s constitution to further its own radical agenda would be pathetic if it wasn’t so dangerous.”
While proponents of the measure, including the ACLU, argue that it solely focuses on abortion rights, many Ohioans are worried about its broad language. The measure does not specify age limitations and refers to “reproductive decisions” in general, leaving room for interpretation. Critics fear that it could potentially extend to gender transition procedures for minors.
“Every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion,” states the measure.
Doctors and activists from Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom have hailed the measure as a significant step forward in the fight for reproductive freedom and abortion access. However, opponents argue that it goes too far in limiting parental rights and interfering with important health decisions.
“This amendment is too extreme for Ohio,” said Logan Church, Director of CatholicVote Ohio. “As part of its unrelenting attack on parents, the ACLU’s proposed amendment seeks to cut parents out of their child’s most important and life-altering health decisions – including abortions and sex change operations.”
The ACLU has been actively challenging laws across multiple states that restrict children’s access to transgender drugs and surgeries. They argue that parental consent laws fail to consider situations where parents may not be supportive and impose an unconstitutional burden on minors.
Ohioans will have to wait until July 25 to find out if the measure has officially made it onto the ballot. The secretary of state’s office will verify the signatures, and if the threshold is not met, proponents will have an additional 10 days to gather valid signatures.
The Ohio ACLU did not respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
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