As the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson today, striking down Roe v. Wade, Alaskans Together For Equality Board President Elias Rojas issued the following statement:
“It’s hard to find the words to describe just how devastating today’s news is, not just for people who may become pregnant, but for all of us. Abortion is not just a women’s issue, nor is it a matter that only affects heterosexual people. The Supreme Court just ruled that no American has a right to make their own private medical decisions — a dire statement that we should all find alarming.
“At their core, reproductive rights are LGBTQ+ rights, too. It’s important to remember that reproductive freedoms are intrinsically tied to other issues facing members of the LGBTQ+ community, including when and how we marry, raise families, and express our gender identity. As we well know, the same groups that have worked tirelessly to overturn Roe also have those rights in their crosshairs; in fact, Justice Thomas’ concurrence explicitly mentions Supreme Court rulings protecting contraception, same-sex relationships, and marriage equality as ‘erroneous’ decisions that the court should ‘reconsider.’ This court and its supporters appear poised to tear down all of the progress that LGBTQ+ activists have achieved over the last half-century. We must not be complacent.
“For now, abortion is still protected under Alaska law. It is up to us now to press lawmakers to ensure that right remains protected, and that we continue to make progress on equality and civil rights for all Alaskans.
“This year, Alaskans will go to the polls to elect lawmakers at the state and national level, including a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives that is without an incumbent for the first time in four decades. It is critically important that we mobilize our community to get out the vote and elect candidates who will fight for the rights we cherish. Remember that the justices who joined today’s decision were confirmed by a vote of the U.S. Senate, where Alaskans have equal representation with every other state. Every election, at every level, provides us an opportunity to prevent further erosion of our most treasured rights.
“The government has no business interfering in Alaskans’ personal decisions about who we are, who we love, and how our families are formed. Now more than ever, we need politicians who will keep their laws off our bodies, out of our bedrooms, and away from our doctors’ offices.”
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