Neil Gorsuch has an alarming history of interfering with reproductive rights and women's health. He puts access to abortion, birth control, and care at Planned Parenthood at stake, and his nomination must be stopped.
"There has never been a more important Supreme Court nomination. It has become crystal clear that the courts are going to be the last -- and sometimes only -- line of defense against dangerous and unconstitutional attacks on basic rights. At risk is a woman's right to control her own body and access health care, the right to vote, and the right of all people in this country to be free from discrimination based on who they love, where they come from, their race, and their religious beliefs."
-- Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood of America
Paul Ryan says he's "phenomenal." Anti-abortion activists say he's "exceptional." Here's what we say: Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch is a danger to our fundamental rights - and he must be stopped.
Judge Gorsuch has an alarming history of interfering with reproductive rights and health, including women's access to birth control and care at Planned Parenthood. That's all the more frightening now that lawmakers in the House are forging ahead with their legislation to cut patients off from care at Planned Parenthood health centers.
Judge Gorsuch has:
Argued in favor of letting bosses deny their employees birth control coverage: Gorsuch ruled against women's access to contraception, and in favor of the idea that corporations are people. In fact, Gorsuch wants to go even further than the Hobby Lobby decision in blocking employees' access to insurance coverage for birth control.
Sided with a politician who wanted to deny patients access to care at Planned Parenthood health centers in Utah: Gorsuch wanted to allow the state of Utah to block access to health care and education for thousands of Planned Parenthood's patients. If this policy had gone into effect, it would have cut off access to an after-school sex education program for teens and chlamydia and gonorrhea testing and treatment for at-risk communities.
Been highly critical of LGBTQ advocates and others who turn to the courts to protect their constitutional rights:In fact, Gorsuch rejected a claim from a transgender woman incarcerated in Oklahoma that the state violated her rights by denying her hormone treatments and gender-appropriate clothing.
Lest we forget: The U.S. Supreme Court is the last line of defense for safe and legal abortion in this country. The defense of Roe v. Wade and safe, legal abortion will come down to who is sitting on the Supreme Court. However, Gorsuch has not come out to publicly, clearly assure us that he will uphold Roe v. Wade and protect women's basic right to health care as the law of the land. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood of America, put it this way:
"The right to safe and legal abortion has been the law of the land for more than 40 years, and is a part of the fabric of this country. Nominees to the highest court in the land must make clear that they will protect our fundamental rights -- including the right of a woman to control her body."
More Reasons to Oppose Gorsuch
The next Supreme Court justice will rule on cases that strike at the very heart of who we are as a country.
The Supreme Court will be the last line of defense when the president acts recklessly to target immigrants, refugees, Muslims, and people of color. They will have the duty of safeguarding the civil rights, equality, and dignity for all. They will either be the one to uphold Roe v. Wade, protecting the right of every woman to decide when and whether to bear children -- or they will be responsible for dismantling our most fundamental rights.
Already, the Trump administration has attacked access to reproductive care, sound science, and the safety and freedom of countless refugees and Muslims -- in most cases, with little more than a stroke of the pen in the Oval Office. Planned Parenthood is not about to let them turn the Supreme Court into another means of stripping away our fundamental rights.
You've seen it since the inauguration: There's only one way we can get anything done under the Trump administration, and that's by making our voices heard - loud and clear - over and over and over again so lawmakers who want to get reelected in 2018 and beyond can't ignore us. We are the majority, and we won't back down - not when the future of health care access, safe and legal abortion, and respect for individual rights are at stake.
We simply can't allow someone with Judge Gorsuch's extreme views to have a permanent seat on our highest court. Join the opposition to his nomination now. We can't leave any doubt in senators' minds about just how many Americans are against this dangerous nominee. We're delivering those petitions in opposition to Gorsuch -- make sure you're counted among them.
