Disability Justice is a Reproductive Justice Issue

Cross-posted at Not Your Average Feminist and Dear Planned Parenthood,

I can not tell you how excited I am by the response to cutting funding to Planned Parenthood. It feels like a movement for the first time in a long time, at least for me personally. I also feel so incredibly empowered by the huge amount of support for the “I Stand with Planned Parenthood” campaign, but at the same time, I’m forced to check my privilege.

With advances in genetic testing, there is a growing debate about disability and abortion. Often time the question becomes whether or not “this child will be better off not being born than suffering through life with a disability.” I recently learned about some failed legislation that would have banned abortion if the woman was basing her decision on the fetus’ race, sex, or ability. Limiting choice is NOT the solution. Rather the solution is to reteach what we value as a society.

The fact that the biggest campaign for Planned Parenthood right uses ableist language isn’t nearly as concerning as those who are not even in the conversation. My movement is more than the pro-choice/pro-life debate…I’m talking about Access to equal and affordable health care, Sovereignty to be in and make decisions for our own bodies, and Liberation for all those who have been silenced or made invisible because we don’t fit nicely into “normal.”

I mean, that’s just how I’m feeling today…How do you feel about it?