Overturning Roe v. Wade is just the beginning in the dismantling of our rights

To get yourself caught up on how I came to support Roe v. Wade after opposing it, click here.

I never thought I would see this day. Not just the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court, but the day I have an emotional response to this ruling. Again, I, personally, oppose abortion, but here’s the thing. I don’t ever have to get one. I don’t have to deal with the physical and mental ramifications of whether a pregnancy should be terminated or not. That should be a woman’s choice. But I’m getting off track.

Whether you support abortion or not, you should be terrified right now. With the conservative-packed Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, this is only the beginning. The ruling essentially gives authority back to the states on whether or not abortion is legal. Why is it I only hear about ‘states rights’ when it comes to oppressing the rights of the marginalized?

Before we know it, the states will be determining the rights of the trans community. Then the rest of the LGBTQ+ community. Then it will be people of color. Then the homeless, the mentally ill, and the poor. Then, the ruling class will start making up new categories to put people who they deem unworthy of representation. How long will it be before you’re in one of these categories, if you’re not already?

I keep hearing about people and politicians who are strict ‘Constitutionalists’. They’re not unlike the people who believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible. They won’t be happy until we’re actually living again like it’s 1776. You know, slavery, no women’s rights, only male landowners can vote, etc.

We do have a modicum of power when it comes to protecting not only your own rights, but the rights of others. We have the power to vote. Here in Kansas, there is the ‘Value Them Both’ amendment vote on August 2nd. While we do have a governor who is a Democrat, outside of Topeka, Lawrence, and Wichita, Kansas is a deep red state. I’ve never voted in a primary election in my life, but I’m sure as hell voting in this one.

I also have to laugh at the fact they’re calling this the ‘Value Them Both’ amendment. Republican politicians only value them both up until the baby is born. Then the Republicans couldn’t care less what happens to the baby or the mother. Hell, they don’t even care if the mother was raped or molested by a family member, but they don’t want there to be any kind of social support going to these women and children.

It also doesn’t help that we’re largely fighting the orange cult that the Republican Party has become. Just one of the many reasons I left. The January 6th hearings have shown us just how far the GOP is willing to go to cling on to any shred of power.

I guess what my rambling is getting to is that we all need to get out and vote. Vote on primary day, vote in the general election. Yes, your vote does count if we all come together to not only protect the rights we have, but to reclaim the ones that were taken away.