Two Years After Dobbs, The Fight for Reproductive Rights Continues
It’s hard to believe it’s been two whole freaking years. Two years since the Supreme Court, in all its infinite wisdom (read: sarcasm), decided to overturn Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. June twenty-fourth, two thousand twenty-four, will mark the anniversary of that dark, dark day. The day a fundamental right – the right to bodily autonomy, the right to make decisions about your own reproductive health – was ripped away from millions of Americans.
As a father of four, it’s tough to stomach that my kids are growing up with fewer rights than the generations before them. It feels, honestly, like we’re moving backwards. Didn’t our parents and grandparents fight like hell for us to have more freedom, more opportunities? Weren’t we supposed to be moving towards a more just and equitable society?
A Gut Punch Heard ‘Round the Nation: Remembering the Fallout of Dobbs
I remember exactly where I was when the news of the leaked draft opinion broke. We all kinda knew it was coming, but actually seeing it in black and white… it was like a gut punch. There was this initial wave of shock, of disbelief, followed by this sickening feeling of dread. This is really happening, I remember thinking. And happen it did. When the final decision dropped, it was devastating.
You have to hand it to the anti-abortion folks, though. They played the long game, chipping away at Roe for decades, stacking the courts with judges who shared their ideology. And they won. But at what cost?
Michigan: A Glimmer of Hope in a Post-Roe World
When Dobbs happened, I was serving as a state senator in Michigan. Like many others, I was both angry and heartbroken. But I also knew we couldn’t afford to wallow in despair. We had to act, and fast. Thankfully, here in Michigan, we were ready.
Michigan, despite its political swings, has always had a strong, vibrant pro-choice movement. After Dobbs, that movement kicked into overdrive. We knew we had to codify abortion rights into our state constitution, to protect this fundamental right from the whims of the courts and the legislature.
It wasn’t easy. Anti-abortion legislators fought tooth and nail to block our efforts, even trying to resurrect an archaic abortion ban that dated back to nineteen thirty-one. Can you believe that? A law from before women could even vote! But we persevered. We organized, we rallied, we voted. And in the end, the people of Michigan made their voices heard, overwhelmingly approving a ballot initiative to enshrine abortion rights in our state constitution. It was a major victory, a beacon of hope in what felt like a pretty bleak landscape.
Bridging the Divide: The Fight for Reproductive Rights is About Freedom for All
Even before Dobbs, during my time as a state senator and later as legislative affairs director for Gov. Whitmer, I worked tirelessly to repeal Michigan’s outdated abortion ban. It was a long, hard-fought battle, but it taught me a valuable lesson: abortion rights shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This isn’t about left versus right; it’s about freedom. It’s about trusting women to make the best choices for their own bodies and their families, in consultation with their doctors – not politicians.
And you know what? I found common ground with folks on both sides of the aisle. Because when it comes down to it, most people agree that government overreach is a bad thing, and personal medical decisions should be made by individuals, not dictated by lawmakers.
From Sea to Shining Sea: A Nation Demands Reproductive Freedom
And Michigan’s not alone. All across the country, in red states and blue states alike, we’re seeing a groundswell of support for reproductive rights. Just look at Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would have restricted abortion access. Or Ohio, where citizens voted to protect abortion rights in their state constitution. From coast to coast, folks are standing up and saying, “Enough is enough!”
These victories send a powerful message: Americans value their rights, and they’re not afraid to fight for them. Whether you’re in New York or Alabama, people are starting to realize that this isn’t just about abortion; it’s about control. It’s about who gets to make decisions about your body, your health, your future.
The Road Ahead: Codifying Roe and Ensuring Access for All
Two years after Dobbs, the fight for reproductive freedom is far from over. We’ve made some important strides, but the reality is, millions of Americans still lack access to safe, legal abortion care. That’s unacceptable. We need federal legislation codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade into law, ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they live, has the right to make their own reproductive health choices without government interference. We need to elect pro-choice champions at every level of government, from the White House to state legislatures, who will fight for our rights and expand access to care.
This fight is about our daughters, our sisters, our friends, our neighbors. It’s about the kind of future we want to build – a future where everyone has the freedom to make their own choices, control their own destinies, and live their lives on their own terms. That’s a future worth fighting for.