Reproductive Rights - Let's Talk About It
Our Montana Constitution protects our right to privacy, including medical decisions like abortions.
"...right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society"
(Article 2, Section 10)
Montana Democrats are defending these abortion policies that are under attack by the GOP:
- Abortion access up to viability
- Abortion to protect the life of the mother
- Medically safe abortion procedures when required
- State Medicaid funds to cover abortion
- Protections from harassment and physical harm for anyone entering an abortion clinic
The Ravalli Democratic Committee supports reproductive rights
We believe Montanans should:
Great Falls Tribune Photo/Julia Moss
- Protect the right to privacy as guaranteed by the Montana Constitution.
- Keep the government out of a woman's reproductive life.
- Recognize reproductive rights as human rights.
- Honor women’s wisdom in making decisions — especially regarding their bodies and call out those who interfere.
- Dispel the misconception that contraceptives cause abortions when, in fact, they not only prevent conception, but offer treatment for medical conditions and protect against certain cancers.
- Give convenient access to contraception to reduces crisis pregnancies.
- Support reasonable sex education.
Montana Republicans are Attacking Women's Reproductive Rights
The Montana Supreme Court decisions in 1999 (Armstrong v. State) and 2023 (Helen Weems v. State of MT) support women's health care rights, including abortion, as protected by the MT Constitution.
Republicans are committed to eliminating abortion protection under the MT Constitution, to passing legal restrictions on women’s reproductive freedoms, and promoting anti- abortion judges to the Supreme Court.
They want to impose their belief that life begins at conception. Read their platform: "Support all life is sacred policies from conception to natural end of life.. " Similar platforms have led other states to ban all abortions (even to protect the life of the mother or pregnancies caused by rape), ban contraceptives such as IUDs, incarcerate pregnant women to "protect" the fetus, criminalize healthcare professionals, and criminalize families who use IVF to have children.
Multiple bills passed by the 2021 and 2023 legislative sessions included: a ban on abortions beyond 20 weeks, on tele-health RX of abortion medication, require a 24 hour waiting period, barriers to medical abortions, and biased counseling to shame women. The 2021 bills have been overturned by a District Court.
Republican Attorney General Knudsen plans to appeal. The 2023 bills are currently in court.
We support Health Care Professionals and believe Montanans should:
Determine health care based on evidence-based standards of practice established by expert physicians rather than opinion.- Support health care professionals and specialists rather than criminally charging those abiding by established care practices when faced with high risk medical conditions.
The Montana Democratic Committee believes in a woman’s right and ability to make personal decisions regarding contraception and reproductive health, as well as the right to provide or receive services related to those choices in a safe, accessible environment.
