GLAAD RESPONDS TO SENATE FAILURE TO PROTECT ABORTION RIGHTS

“The attack on Roe v Wade coming out of the Supreme Court is not just an assault on abortion rights — it’s an assault on all Americans, especially those of us in marginalized communities. None of us are safe from the extreme anti-women and anti-LGBTQ ideology that now dominates this Court, and we must fight back in every way possible. It’s more critical than ever that Congress acts swiftly and strongly by ending the filibuster, codifying Roe into law, and passing the Equality Act in order to protect marriage and the other LGBTQ rights. The time is NOW and our very freedom is at stake.”

(May 11, 2022) GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is responding to the news that West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin joined senate Republicans in voting against the Women’s Health Protection Act today, thereby killing the bill. The bill, which passed the House last September, would have codified the right to abortion—and the right of healthcare providers to perform abortions—into federal law.

With the final tally at 49-51, Manchin’s vote prevented a tie that would have been broken in favor of the bill by Vice President Kamala Harris. The vote came just over a week after an unprecedented leak of a Supreme Court draft that would overturn Roe v. Wade, sending the country into a tailspin of patchwork state bans on abortion. In the days since, anti-abortion elected officials in some states have gone as far as proposing bans all forms of birth control including IUDs, Plan B, and even condoms. 

Polling data shows Americans support abortion rights, and that support has increased since the SCOTUS leak. Pew Research surveys from May 2021 showed that a majority of Americans (59%) support the right to abortion in all or most cases. But new poling from Monmouth University conducted after the draft leak and release today shows that 64% of Americans now believe abortion should be legal, and 57% of Americans specifically want Roe v. Wade to stand. 

Important context on abortion and LGBTQ Americans:

  • Abortion is an inherently LGBTQ issue, as many bisexual, lesbian, and queer cisgender women, transgender men, nonbinary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people can get pregnant. 

  • The relationship between abortion and other reproductive and sexual health is intrinsic; threats to abortion rights mirror threats to sex education and STI prevention. 

  • State attacks on abortion rights often go hand-in-hand with state attacks on LGBTQ people, especially on youth and schools. Many of the states that would ban abortion if the court overturns Roe v. Wade have either already banned healthcare for transgender youth and trans youth participation in school sports, or are trying to. Several states have also introduced 'Don't Say Gay' laws banning discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools, and book bans targeting LGBTQ content have swept the nation.

Quote from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:

“The attack on Roe v Wade coming out of the Supreme Court is not just an assault on abortion rights — it’s an assault on all Americans, especially those of us in marginalized communities. None of us are safe from the extreme anti-women and anti-LGBTQ ideology that now dominates this Court, and we must fight back in every way possible. It’s more critical than ever that Congress acts swiftly and strongly by ending the filibuster, codifying Roe into law, and passing the Equality Act in order to protect marriage and the other LGBTQ rights. The time is NOW and our very freedom is at stake.”

GLAAD’s May 3rd statement on the leaked SCOTUS draft can be found here.

GLAAD has a Guide for Media Covering anti-LGBTQ Legislation here. GLAAD’s checklist for accurate coverage includes recommendations to seek facts from experts in medicine and education over opinions from public figures; to include LGBTQ voices in all stories about LGBTQ issues; include LGBTQ parents and families in discussions about “parents’ rights;” and include context about bills’ impact on vulnerable youth.

Additional research:

- 222 state bills have been proposed in 2022 targeting LGBTQ people, according to Freedom for All Americans

- 32 state bills target transgender youth healthcare, which is supported by every major medical association as evidence-based, safe and lifesaving; statements here

- U.S. Supreme Court decisions on LGBTQ equality:

Bostock v Clayton County (2020) - expanding Civil Rights employment protections

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) - granting the right to marry

United States v. Windsor (2013) - overturning the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act”

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)- secured the Constitutional right to privacy and dignity for LGBTQ people and relationships

Romer v. Evans (1995) - struck down state laws banning LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections  

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About GLAAD:
GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.