News & Updates

U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Right to Choose in Partisan Decision

For Immediate Release
June 24th, 2022
Contact: Michelle Slaybaugh
mslaybaugh@siecus.org

U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Right to Choose in Partisan Decision
Dobbs v. Jackson reverses a nearly 50 year precedent from Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled along partisan lines in a 6-3 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, rolling back access to safe, legal abortions for millions of people. The ruling overturned the decades-long precedent set by Roe v. Wade and strengthened in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Roughly half of the states in the United States have near-total bans or prohibitions that limit access to abortions.

In the majority opinion, Justice Alito wrote that Constitution does not include the right to abortion care. This egregious decision, which undermines Constitutional Due Process, the 14th Amendment, and the right to privacy, will create a new cause for advocates to be fearful of further attempts to undermine the legal basis for ‘unenumerated’ rights regarding the sexuality, sexual behavior and reproductive rights of every American.

SIECUS has, and always will, affirm that a person’s decision to access abortion care is a fundamental human right and therefore should be freely accessible.

Christine Soyong Harley, President, and CEO of SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, released the following statement:

“The Court got it wrong. This dangerous Supreme Court decision will forever be a stain on the fabric of American history with far-reaching implications. This decision only increases the risk, including for trauma, pain, and potentially death, for those seeking abortion care, especially for people of color. In fact, research and history have shown time and time again that limiting access to legal abortion care will only endanger more lives.

“SIECUS is especially concerned that this interpretation of the right to manage one’s own reproductive autonomy eliminates the right to privacy, including as it relates to sexuality, contraception, private sexual activity, same-sex marriage, and interracial marriage. It is clear that the conservative members of this Court are willing to disregard the inherent and fundamental truth – that the right to autonomy over one’s own sexuality and reproduction is beyond the Constitution. But the Constitution and precedent were not regarded by these six out-of-touch, activist Justices, and this fight is not over.

“SIECUS will continue to uphold that access to reproductive health care and sex education  are fundamental human rights for all people living in the United States.”

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SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change has served as the national voice for sex education for almost 60 years, asserting that sexuality is a fundamental part of being human, one worthy of dignity and respect. Through policy, advocacy, education, and strategic communications efforts, SIECUS advances sex education as a vehicle for social change—working toward a world where all people can access and enjoy sexual and reproductive freedom as they define it for themselves.

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