Pro-Life Performative Politics
Recently, Ohio’s pro-life community was ablaze with celebrating apparent victories.
The Ohio House passed HB 485, the Baby Olivia Act and HB 324, the Patient Protection Act. HB 485 requires public schools in Ohio to teach human growth and development to grades 5–12. This requirement also includes showing prenatal development from fertilization to birth. According to a press release, HB 324, the Patient Protection Act, “requires that any patient being prescribed a high-risk medication with at least a 5% chance of severe adverse effects must first receive an in-person evaluation with their prescriber.” This is being lauded as a pro-life victory since mifepristone would be considered a “high-risk medication.” Live Action writes, “The abortion pill, mifepristone, would fall within the parameters of the bill, which means the abortion pill could no longer be prescribed via telehealth in Ohio.” HB 324 would then require the abortion pill to be prescribed in-person. These pieces of legislation are being celebrated by major pro-life organizations such as Ohio Right to Life & Center for Christian Virtue.
But are these really victories? We applaud the passage of HB 485, and hope that it passes the Senate and is signed into law. But what about HB 324? It is interesting to note that HB 324 nowhere explicitly mentions abortion or mifepristone. Our contention is not with HB 324, but the application of HB 324 to abortion by the pro-life community. The problem is first and foremost an ethical one. The pro-life community is treating abortion as if it were healthcare. The pro-life community seeks to regulate access to mifepristone as a viable drug. In doing so, these pro-life organizations are upholding and perpetuating the system of evil that is abortion. Our strategy should not be to regulate the abominable evil of abortion, but to seek its total abolition. The pro-life community needs to consider what it is communicating by celebrating HB 324 in relation to abortion access.
There is another glaring problem. Ohio Right to Life is in strong opposition to HB 370, the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act. Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) refuses to support HB 370, and Aaron Baer, the president of CCV, stated that it, “is not a part of CCV’s efforts to overturn the abortion amendment and save lives.” Let’s put the pieces together. These organizations refuse to support the only legislation which would eradicate legal abortion and yet celebrate the passage of HB 485 and HB 324, legislation that does nothing to effect the legal end to abortion.
The mask comes off. HB 485 and HB 324 have allowed pro-life organizations and legislators to give the false appearance that they are working to abolish abortion, while opposing or refusing to touch the only bill that would. These bills have allowed pro-life organizations and legislators to appease and quiet their donor bases, while continuing to funnel their money under false pretense. This is absolutely shameful. Pro-life legislation provides cover for organizations and politicians who aren't really interested in abolishing abortion. The complete avoidance and radio silence from the mainstream pro-life community on HB 370 has been astounding. In fact, on their Legislative Tracker for November 20th, CCV lists thirty-one pieces of legislation that they are following, relevant to their mission as an organization. Not on the list? HB 370.
Ohioans need to know that Ohio Right to Life & Center for Christian Virtue are virtue signaling and playing performative activism on the issue of abortion. When pro-life orgs boast their repertoire of pro-life victories, ask them if they support HB 370. When state legislators boast their repertoire on the campaign trail, ask them where they stand on HB 370. Ask them if they would commit to advancing equal protection. We need organizations and legislators who aren’t going to virtue signal. We need organizations and legislators who are going to own the fight and count the cost.
