COLAGE Executive Director Jordan Budd issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson:
Just a few weeks ago, a leaked memo of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision signaled this outcome. There was outrage, and rightfully so, but that hasn’t stopped the Supreme Court from ruling on the wrong side of history. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court has upheld Mississippi’s most recent abortion ban and has subsequently overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey which guaranteed the right to an abortion in the United States.
This is a dark day for anyone who may desire or need an abortion in the dozens of states where bodily autonomy has now been outlawed for many. Abortion access, like all healthcare, should be considered an unalienable right. COLAGE is in solidarity with organizations that are leading the fight for reproductive justice.
In the coming weeks, we will share more about how this ruling may impact LGBTQ+ families. Undeniably, the language mentioning Obergefell, Lawrence, and other landmark civil rights cases, suggests a frightening legislative future. COLAGE is actively building a coalition to secure the rights of LGBTQ+ families in the face of these threats. However, our focus right now must remain on what was lost today – access to abortion.
You can directly support the work of those who provide abortion access by donating to an abortion fund, giving directly to community clinics, or helping with practical support organizations.
However, it’s not just Dobbs v. Jackson. Other opinions handed down this term have eroded our Miranda rights, limited the ability of states to regulate gun ownership amidst a resurgence in mass shootings, eroded the separation of church and state, and further expanded the police state while restricting our ability to sue over the infringement of our rights. On top of all that, Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginni Thomas, was a key conspirator in the January 6th insurrection. All of this paints a clear picture: the Supreme Court is an illegitimate institution that has always been politicized, and depending on it to protect the rights and freedoms of marginalized people is a fool’s errand.
In our political climate, it is too easy for our causes to be siloed and for our social justice movements to become so tailored that we miss the opportunity to rally collectively. Reproductive Justice sets a precedent for solidarity based on consent and bodily autonomy for marginalized people – it’s about the right to choose family. At COLAGE, we know all about choosing family.
If you are interested in joining the movement to expand the Supreme Court, you can find more information about the Judiciary Act here. At the very least, take to the streets today and this weekend. Do not wait until November to make your voice heard — we cannot allow them to believe we will stay quiet as a small group of unelected and unaccountable judges reverse a half century of progress. In the ever-relevant words of Zora Neale Hurston, “If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.”
Today we mourn the loss of abortion access in much of this country. Tomorrow we fight to reclaim our rights and make sure more is not lost.
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Read the full opinion from the Supreme Court, learn more about COLAGE and our work, and help support us as we continue to provide community and empowerment for people with LGBTQ+ parents/caregivers.