Blog for Choice Day On the 34th Anniversary of Roe Vs. Wade

NARAL Pro-Choice America has announced the second annual Blog for Choice Day on January 22, the 34^th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. This Supreme Court ruling made abortion a legal option in America. On its anniversary, NARAL asks bloggers to "raise the profile of reproductive rights issues in the blogosphere and the media, and to let everyone know that a woman's right to choose is nonnegotiable." Pro-choice men and women can also write to NARAL to express their views. Those who prefer not to write are encouraged to ask their favorite sites to weigh in on the topic.

NARAL Pro-Choice America was founded in 1969 by Bernard Nathanson, Larry Lader, and Betty Friedan as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, and its name underwent slight variations, until it dropped the long form entirely. Now referred to as simply NARAL (pronounced 'NAY-ral'), the political organization campaigns for reproductive choice in America and internationally.

Abortion is the most contentious issue that NARAL advocates, but not the only one. Reproductive rights, broadly speaking, are its domain. This includes sex education and birth control. Recent victories include the decision to sell "morning after" contraception over the counter and Wal-Mart's decision to cover birth control in its basic health insurance plan. NARAL considers the exclusion of birth control in insurance policies discriminatory, and is campaigning to make such coverage mandatory.

Bloggers can sign up for a Blog for Choice Day reminder on BushvChoice: The Pro-Choice Action Center, and download a Blog for Choice Day sidebar graphic to let their readers know they're participating.

Reproductive choice was a contentious issue in last November's midterm elections, most notably in South Dakota. The 2006 ban would have outlawed all abortions except those done to save the life of a pregnant woman. It was passed by the 2006 Legislature and signed by Gov. Mike Rounds. However, after being referred to a public vote, during the midterm elections, the ban was overturned. South Dakota only has one abortion clinic and some of the most restrictive laws in the nation. The Sioux Falls ArgusLeader reports that while abortion will not become a main theme of the 2007 legislative session as it was in 2006, a similar measure could be put to voters in the 2008 elections.

A number of other laws related to reproductive choice went to the ballots last year, notably parental notification law in California, which was rejected on November 7.

Reproductive rights, including abortion, are a hot button topic, and just as anti-abortion activists seek to outlaw abortion, NARAL is unwavering in its commitment to ensure that Roe vs. Wade is not reversed, and abortion remains a safe, legal option for women in America. If the law is overturned, abortion would become illegal in about thirty states, according to the NARAL site. These states have passed preemptive laws, and should the Supreme Court overturn Roe vs. Wade, abortion would automatically become illegal. Two such bills await action in the Texas legislature, and Georgia is preparing a bill that would punish doctors who provide abortions with life in prison or the death penalty. NARAL is encouraging Georgians to write to their legislators, to get involved in the effort to prevent this "extreme" bill from passing hearings.

The campaign for reproductive choice is international, and NARAL lamented the recent vote in Nicaragua's Congress that banned all abortions. This ban became law quickly, despite the concerns of diplomats, doctors and women's rights advocates that the issue has become politicized ahead of presidential elections. Illegal abortions now carry a six-year prison term, and the president wants it increased to 10 to 30 years.

Last fall, Ms. Magazine ran a cover story entitled "We Had Abortions," featuring thousands of women's names and some of their stories. The website continues to accept submissions from women who want to tell their story. Because this is a contentious topic, anonymous postings are an option.

NARAL is a high profile organization, with enough clout to raise significant funds and endorse political candidates with measurable outcomes. However, it also relies on men and women to get involved locally, with letter writing campaigns, public events and media initiatives like Blog for Choice. NARAL's Choice Action Network relies on high level political lobbying, but its grassroots strategy, such as this blogosphere initiative, is indispensable.