My newsfeed is
blowing up with people talking about SCOTUS' decision to rule state bans on
same-sex marriage unconstitutional. Regardless of if this decision makes you
feel elated or upset, I hope this decision continues the drive open and
reasonable conversation on the issue. However, I couldn't help but draw some
parallels to this topic and another controversial issue in today's society. I
have found that most of my pro-LBGT friends are also pro-choice. When I ask
them about why, I typically get the "Because I believe in choice"
answer. I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that peoples' moral
beliefs are actually more political party beliefs than an individual moral
code. In other words, people who vote for a political party that allows gay marriage
will also vote for the political party that believes in abortion on demand up
to 40 weeks...because, duh! "We're Democrats!" But I'm here to tell
you why that logic is so unfathomably narrow.
1. Life, Liberty
and the Pursuit of Happiness
I've heard it time
and time again. The LBGT community just want marry the ones they love. That is their pursuit of happiness. Another
inalienable right given to us through the Declaration of Independence is the
right to life. So, why are millions of unborn children denied that very right?
I know what you're thinking: When does life actually begin though? That is a
tough question for many people, but there is one thing I think anyone with a
clear conscience can conclude. Life does not magically begin when a child passes
through a six inch birth canal. At the time of fertilization, a baby's genetic
makeup is complete. At this time every element of the child has already been
determined: height, eye and hair color, gender and more. At 22 days, their
heart begins to beat. By six weeks, brainwaves can be recorded. By the fifth
month, the baby has already developed sleeping habits and their tiny heart is
pumping up to 25 quarts of blood a day. At 36 weeks, their lungs are fully
developed, and come 40 weeks, they are maybe (or maybe not-depending on if
they've been born) legally a person according to Roe V. Wade. Now, let's try to
pinpoint an exact time where life begins in this cycle. If life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness so matters to the LBGT community, it is up to them to
acknowledge that very right for people outside of their own community.
2. The Violent Cure
In 1991,
researchers Simon LeVay and Dean Hamer found that nuclei
in INAH 3 were almost twice as large in heterosexual men than
homosexual men. Today, people use this as scientific, biological evidence that
being gay is not a choice, but their natural instinct. But what about the
natural instinct to live? Although there is still plenty to be learned about
fetal development, thanks to modern technology, we are able to get a closer
look at this area. In Abby Johnson's book, Unplanned, she discusses assisting
an ultrasound-guided abortion during her time as a Planned Parenthood Director.
During the abortion, she described seeing a 13-week-old fetus fighting to get
away from the suction tool during the procedure. In addition to her first hand
account, there is some scientific data that has concluded that unborn children
can in fact feel pain. Dr. Kanwaljeet Anand, a professor
of pediatrics, anesthesiology and neurobiology at the University
of Tennessee, concluded that fetal pain is likely as early as 18 weeks.
The only rebuttal to this argument, and it is one used often, is that much like
unborn children who are in need of surgery, unborn babies who are aborted are
under anesthesia and cannot feel the pain during the process. We are living in
a society that is perfectly okay with performing a painful and ultimately,
lethal procedure, as long as there are enough drugs to cover the effects.
For years, electric shock therapy and lobotomies were used in attempts to try
to "cure" the homosexual community. Today, chemicals, vacuums and
suctions are used to try to "cure" an unwanted pregnancy. At the time
the inhumane tactics of conversion therapy were in use, they were seen by
many, including some of the medical community, as reasonable. Today,
many people see dismemberment of humans in the womb as reasonable.
3. The Unwanted
Even today, I'm
sure some of the gay community feels unwanted. Regardless of how tolerant today's
society is, there is still someone out there claiming we should "jus' kill
off all them damn homos!" But everyone has a meaningful purpose in
society. And if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, please, never
let anyone tell you different. The tragic reality is gay teens are 8.4 times
more likely to attempt suicide because they probably feel unwanted. I am tired
of hearing of all the awful stories of LBGT teens committing suicide
because of this very reason. No one should be classified as unwanted. To
the child who will be born into poverty, you are not unwanted. To the child
born with disabilities, you are not unwanted. To the child born without a
father, you are not unwanted. Freakenomics author and economist Steven Levitt
made the claim that after Roe V. Wade, the crime rate went down significantly
in the 1990s. Several people have debunked the economic claim behind his
theory, but what's even more startling is that people would resort to the
Nazi-like justifications for a better society. We have to step away from the
macroeconomic and statistical view of society and think compassionately.
I encourage anyone
who reads this to truly consider the reality of abortion. I am certain that
many will voice concerns for the mother of these children, and if you fall into
that category, just know that this was written by a mother. A mother who was
afraid and financially unstable at the time of her pregnancy. Even now, I sit
and type this outside as my daughter plays on the swing and interrupts me
for the occasional staring contest. I have compassion for mothers
just as I do for the LBGT community, trust me. I wrote every word of this
knowing mothers, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders are intelligent
enough and strong enough to be more than just a partisan polarization. If
you define yourself as liberal and or pro-choice, that is certainly fine.
However, it is not OK for political parties to set aside a roadmap that you
must follow like mindless robots. I must make it very clear that this is not a
to challenge a law or any other legal force on the issue of abortion, but to
challenge hearts and minds. That is where our love and compassion must make a
change for the better.
