What Exactly Is “Reproductive Freedom”?

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On November 5th, Marylanders will be asked to vote on whether to AMEND the Maryland Constitution.

The proposed Amendment is called the Right to Reproductive Freedom.

The problem is, the term “Reproductive Freedom” is not defined. 

It’s not defined in the Amendment and has no official definition in law, medicine or the dictionary. Rather, it’s a political term that, depending on who you talk to, could mean a variety of things, not just abortion.

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment reads:

   That every person, as a central component of an individual’s rights to liberty and equality, has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.  

     The State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

• Notice how the Amendment applies to everyone.

• Notice how the Amendment makes no distinction between adults and minors. 

• Notice how the Amendment guarantees the right to “reproductive freedom,” including but not limited to…  

•  Notice how the term “reproductive freedom” is not only undefined, but unlimited.

In Maryland, abortion is legal for any reason through six months of pregnancy (viability); after six months, abortion is legal to protect the life or health of the mother or for fetal anomalies. 

The current law also provides protections for minors, since minors may not have the maturity to consent to medical procedures and risks.

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment will enshrine unrestricted abortion, up to the moment of birth, into the Maryland Constitution, and it will be funded with your tax dollars.  

The Amendment also removes protections for minors.

Minors will have the same “reproductive freedoms” as adults.

This means minors will have the ability to obtain abortions, contraceptives, sell their eggs or sperm, participate in experimental reproductive research or act as surrogates for compensation, and all without their parent’s knowledge or consent.

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment opens the door to minors obtaining gender-affirming treatment, like puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, binders, and counseling, all without their parent’s knowledge or consent.

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment opens the door to minors obtaining sex-reassignment surgery, without their parent’s knowledge or consent.

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment could affect what our children learn in school about sex, gender and reproduction, regardless of their parent’s wishes.

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment could affect the rights of parents and custody of their children if they disagree with the gender or reproductive choices their children make. 

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment could also affect our religious liberties or conscientious objections, especially for doctors, health care professionals, and teachers.

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment even allows for cloning! 

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment, as written, is ambiguous and unlimited. 

Even though it does not specifically say “abortion,” “surrogacy,” “gender-affirming,” “sex re-assignment,” “religious liberties,” and so on, its language leaves the door open for nefarious purposes.

During Legislative debates, State Senator Simonaire pointed out, "There's no age limit, so [the Amendment] could apply to a minor...," and asked that protections for minors be included, but this was rejected by lawmakers. He also correctly asserts if existing state law conflicts with the Maryland Constitution, "the Constitution wins." (Visit HealthNotHarmMD.org for video footage) 

We will not know the true extent of what's included in this Amendment until the courts interpret it years down the road...and then it will be too late.

A Constitutional Amendment is a permanent alteration to our State’s legal system, and is considered the supreme law of the State. 

A Constitutional Amendment can only be altered or repealed through another Constitutional Amendment, which involves 60% approval from both houses of the Maryland Legislature and ratification by a majority of Maryland voters.  

If the Reproductive Freedom Amendment becomes part of the Maryland Constitution, lawmakers will be hindered from passing future laws regarding “reproductive freedom” – whatever that is.

The only “freedom” the Reproductive Freedom Amendment guarantees is the freedom for minors to go against their parents and to make destructive decisions.

Abortions in Maryland are already funded with our tax dollars through Maryland Medicaid. 

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment will cover unrestricted late-term abortions, and will open the door to covering other reproductive procedures with our tax dollars. 

Believe it or not, our tax dollars already pay for the training of individuals, who are not even physicians, to perform abortions (through all nine months) to the tune of $3.5 million per year!”

The Reproductive Freedom Amendment is a Trojan Horse in disguise!

Please tell three people about the dangers of the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, and ask them to tell three people. 

Note: We are happy to provide additional materials or speakers.