1. Do not dehumanize or minimize the emotions of the other side. Their passion and pain is real.

When you work in such a divisive issue, it is easy to fall into the habit of dehumanizing the other side. They are all ignorant, hateful, and bigoted. After hearing testimony after testimony it became clear to me the heartbeat activists truly believe they are saving lives. Also, I heard many women testify about the suffering they have faced after their abortion. Regardless the root of these feels, I have no place to minimize or trivialize their pain.

2. Anti-choice laws make providers leave or delay care

Hearing many doctors talk about their perspective on the heartbeat bill made me realize the law will impact women’s health in more ways than decreasing access to abortion. Many laws that restrict abortion carry heavy consequences for providers. If they provide an abortion, and it was found to not be medically necessary it could cause them to face legal charges. This results in a delay of care, which could have fatal consequences. These laws also cause doctors to leave. Doctors feel that laws like the Heartbeat Bill limit their ability to provide care. This forces them to leave the state and practice elsewhere. This decreases access to other services provided by OB/GYNs – pap smears, breast exams, cancer screening, and prenatal care – to name a few.

3. Catchy titles don’t make for good policies/Reaching moderates is more important than energizing your base

“Personhood,” Heartbeat – these laws try to simplify complex issues for the sake of a catchy name. A name that also really only resonates with their base. If you want to create laws that not only work, but also catch the eye of people outside of your base, you are going to have to try harder than Heartbeat.

4. Abortion is a complicated issue, and always will be

Abortion is a controversial issue. Religions and cultures hold various beliefs on life and what medical services are morally acceptable. The anti-choice community claims that with advances in medical care the answer to when life begins becomes clearer, but I would argue it becomes more complicated. How this issue is fought and framed will continue to depend on the status of our legislators, courts, and culturer. Regardless, I feel this debate will be present in US politics for some time to come.  

5. Young people have powerful voices in this debate

Some of the most powerful testimony was provided by young people. Constantly I am told young people are not engaged in the fight for reproductive justice. These hearing further demonstrated that not only are young people part of the movement, but they are also leaders. Young people packed the hearing room, and young people testified. Their presence had an impact on the Ohio Senate, and women in Ohio are safer because of their actions.