Brief to Supreme Court misses the point

[Today’s guest post by Rebecca Downs is part of our paid blogging program.]

By now you may have heard about a brief submitted to the Supreme Court, on behalf of those opposed to same-sex marriage, which claims recognizing such marriages could cause 900,000 abortions. 

Gene Schaerr also wrote for The Daily Signal explaining the claim and summarized the brief for Public Discourse. 

The argument is that recognizing same-sex marriage will lead to a decrease in marriage for couples of the opposite sex. Unmarried women are more likely to have abortions than married women. Therefore, with fewer straight women getting married, there is a connection between same-sex marriage and abortion. 

This purported correlation of abortion with same-sex marriage is shaky at best. While same-sex marriage is recognized in more and more jurisdictions, the abortion rate is actually declining, and recently hit its lowest level since Roe v. Wade.

Besides, the case that the Supreme Court is hearing tomorrow is clearly about one topic: same-sex marriage. The case is not about abortion. And unfortunately, the Court has not yet overturned Roe v. Wade. Since the Supreme Court continues to allow abortion, even treating abortion as a constitutional right, why would the Court find the “same-sex marriages means more abortions” brief compelling?

Whether you are in support of or are opposed to same-sex marriage, the brief ought to strike you as outrageous, desperate, and embarrassing. 

Those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons should especially be angered by this claim for stifling more legitimate discussion and debate. 

Perhaps the worst part about this claim is how exclusive and alienating it is. The pro-life movement includes those who identify as LGBT, and even more who support same-sex marriage. If the movement truly wishes to focus on saving preborn children, it should welcome all. We need not be distracted by same-sex marriage, or other issues. 

Isn’t it good to have diversity in our movement? We certainly don’t want our foes to be accurate when they stereotype us! More importantly, our diversity demonstrates that concern for the right to life is paramount and transcends all sorts of differences. 

I have my opinions on abortion, on same-sex marriage, and on a whole other host of issues. But to me, protecting innocent, vulnerable and defenseless life is the most pressing issue of our day. Regardless of any and all of our differences, if you stand with me to protect life, I am proud to have you by my side.