PRO - WOMAN,
PRO - LIFE.
Feminists Choosing Life of New York (FCLNY) is a state-wide human rights coalition that embraces and promotes whole life feminism and the consistent life ethic. FCLNY's public advocacy draws connections between the root causes of violence, inequality and the social forces that dehumanize.
FCLNY Supports the Consistent Life Ethic
We oppose publicly sanctioned lethal violence including violent military action, abortion, assisted suicide and capital punishment, and educate on the impacts and root causes including poverty, domestic violence, sex trafficking, and racism .
FCLNY advocates for peaceful solutions.
We accomplish our goals through SEVEN bold initiatives:
• Community Encounters • Scholarly Events • Film Involvement • Media Outreach • Grassroots Campaigns • Projects that Empower • Legislative Advocacy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feminists Adamantly Oppose Passage of New York’s Proposed “Equal Rights Amendment”
ROCHESTER, NY — In just about seven short months, a controversial state constitutional ‘equal rights’ amendment, impacting parents and children, will be on the ballot in New York, November 5, 2024. Proponents of NY’s ballot measure claim they’re most concerned about protecting reproductive rights, that the amendment is all about that tried and true blue term : “abortion access.” NY’s proposed ERA, however, goes much further than simply protecting abortion rights. The amendment includes, among other things, the fundamental right of minor children to obtain abortions, including chemical and second and third trimester abortions, as well as a child’s fundamental right to engage in transgender medical interventions. The ERA also empowers Courts to either nullify current or future state laws that require parental notice or consent or to validate state laws that ignore parental notice or consent for these and other life ending or life altering procedures. “You don’t need a law degree to understand how this vaguely written amendment erodes parental rights and hurts children,” states D.J. Robinson, Advisory Board Director of Feminists Choosing Life of New York, a human rights organization that promotes pro-life feminism and the consistent life ethic. FCLNY is also an organizational endorser of the Coalition to Protect Kids-NY, a ballot issue committee purposed to defeat NY’s proposed ERA at the ballot box on general election day. “The proposed so called Equal Rights Amendment potentially provides the court system and public schools in NY with more power than parents to determine what is best for their children,” states Michele Sterlace, Executive Director of FCLNY. “The amendment threatens to deprive parents of crucial opportunities to help their own kids navigate the most difficult circumstances a minor may face; an unplanned pregnancy or gender confusion,” she adds. “Rather than enshrine ‘freedom and equality’ the ERA hurts children and families,” claims FCLNY’s Board President, Cecelia Lester. “All one needs to do is to look at how Europe has backed away from providing these treatments to children which can have devastating life long effects. No child should be taking medications or having surgeries without their parents’ knowledge and consent. NY is already outdated in its thinking on this,” says Lester. “At the very least scientific uncertainty exists regarding the short and long term impacts of abortion on pregnant minors, as well as the effects of transgender medical interventions on children,” states Sterlace. “We owe our children, born and unborn, far more than constitutionally crystallizing rights that will or may harm them, or at minimum where data is lacking regarding impacts, especially when parents, fathers and mothers, are cut from the equation.” According to NY’s most recently published vital statistics on abortion over a five year period, more than six thousand abortions occur on females 20 years old and younger, on average annually. Thousands of those undergoing these abortions are minors 17 years old and younger. More than six thousand later or second and third trimester abortions occur in NY on average annually. Studies reporting on the impacts of abortion on minors are sparse. Even the Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthoods research arm states, further study of the “potential risks and benefits” of abortions on minors “is needed.” Relevant published data however does demonstrate that: “When compared to adult women, adolescents obtain abortions at a later gestational age--a factor that increases both the psychological and medical risks of the procedure.” Studies reporting on the impacts of transgender medial interventions on minors is even more sparse. While its reported that about forty thousand children in the U.S. suffer from gender dysphoria— comprehensive evidence and professional consensus is missing regarding the impacts and safety of transgender interventions for minors. NY already contains replete state statues that protect abortion access and gender expression. See NY’s Reproductive Health Act and NY’s Human Rights Laws, to name only a few. “It’s time we move forward and not backwards regarding ‘rights.’ Until we recognize the paramount role of motherhood, of parenthood, all people are at risk of exploitation,” states FCLNY’s Vice President, Carol Crossed. XXX
FCLNY is reaching millions by radio and podcast!
Make The Switch Now!
More than half of abortions in the U.S. now involve two “abortion pills,” Mifepristone and Misopristol. It is currently legal in NY for retail pharmacies to mail abortion pills with a prescription via tele-health. CVS and Walgreens have already obtained their certification to dispense abortion pills. Walgreens started providing medication abortions in NY.
Giant retail pharmacies are more likely to undergo the expensive certification process than independent privately owned family pharmacies.
Chemical abortion kills human beings and increases health risks for women. Retail pharmaceutical sale of abortion pills is deadly for unborn children and harmful for women.
As long as privately owned pharmacies continue to resist selling abortion pills we will continue to PROMOTE AND SUPPORT them.
Building a Post-Roe Future
The Pro Life movement has always recognized the importance of supporting women facing unplanned pregnancies.
We are Pro Life conservatives, moderates, and liberals united in our conviction that every human life has value- including the lives of both the unborn child and that child's mother.
We believe that our society should prioritize the needs of both, and that ultimately this can only be achieved by significant changes in public policy including
-
expanded child tax credits
-
paid parental leave
-
flexible work hours
-
affordable child care
-
prenatal child support laws
Impacts of NY's Reproductive Health Act (RHA)
Click on the image below to watch the video
FCLNY'S BROCHURE
For Printed Copies
Message us info@fclny.org
HEAR PROFESSOR TERESA COLLETT SPEAK ABOUT CORE FEMINIST ISSUES
WOMEN'S ALLIANCE AGAINST VIOLENCE (WAAV)/TMS
VICTIMS CHALLENGE NEW YORK'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT IN HISTORIC LAWSUIT
Relevant portions of the NY RHA legal challenge are currently on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The rights of viable unborn children, presented by the NY RHA lawsuit, are hopefully one step closer to adjudication by the U.S. Supreme Court. We hope the lawsuit will land squarely in the hands of the same U.S. Supreme Court Justices that overturned Roe vs. Wade (1973) in Dobbs vs. Jackson (2022). Stay Tuned!