Today, New York State Right to Life commented on reintroduction of the so-called “Women’s Equality Act.”  A group of pro-abortion Democratic State Senators continued to push today for abortion-expansion, despite polls showing the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers oppose their dangerous agenda.

“How many times do New Yorkers have to reject this radical agenda that would legalize abortion for any reason through all nine months?” asked Lori Kehoe, New York State Right to Life executive director. “New York is already the abortion capital of the United States, with practically no oversight of the industry, but they would rather protect the abortion business than New York women. It’s wrong.”

The 10^th point of the Women’s Equality Act, pushed for by Governor Cuomo, would change New York law to open the doors for non-doctors to perform abortions, and to allow abortions in the third trimester for any reason. Current law already allows abortion at any point that a woman’s life is in danger, but the 10^th point would change that to include any “health” reason as well. The key distinction is that “health” was defined in the 1973 court case Doe v. Bolton, providing a definition so broad that it far overreaches physical, or even mental, well-being.

A poll conducted by McLaughlin and Associates last year found that 79.5% of New Yorkers oppose allowing unlimited abortion right through the ninth month of pregnancy.

“It is still surprising to me that some Senators so militantly support abortion on demand that basic human rights, safety for mothers and even widespread public opinion months before an election is completely off their radar.”  They hide behind ‘health’ pretending their dangerous agenda is seeking to help women,” added Kehoe. “But the truth is that passage of the 10^th point of the Women’s Equality Act only serves the violent abortion industry. We urge the New York State Senate to listen to the voters, and to common sense, and oppose this radical expansion of abortion.”

May 20 press release from New York State Right to Life, the oldest and largest pro-life organization in New York. An affiliate of National Right to Life, NYSRTL works through education, legislation, and political action to protect the unborn, elderly, and medically vulnerable among us.