In June 2022 something unprecedented happened. For the first time in American history, the United States Supreme Court took away a constitutionally protected right. About 170,000,000 women (half of our citizens) were denied basic health care and bodily autonomy. Nearly 50 years of legal precedence erased at the drop of a gavel.
A dad in dismay
My thoughts immediately went to my three daughters. One lives in Louisiana, one lives in Florida and one lives in Ohio. As I hastily prepared for these conversations, I had to look at each state and see what “trigger” laws pertaining to abortion care were already being enforced. How many weeks? Would exceptions be made for rape and incest? What about stillbirths? What about ectopic pregnancies? Will Planned Parenthood Clinics be allowed to remain open? I admit my own ignorance to the nuances and complications of healthcare that surrounds pregnancies. I was overwhelmed and angry. My daughters were shocked and terrified. The absolute absurdity of it all.
As a male, I searched for something, anything that I could do to help my daughters and the countless other women across Ohio get their voice back and have their constitutional right to freedom restored. I chose to enter politics, and to be that strong, male advocate that I felt was sorely lacking both state wide and nationally.
Last November Issue 1 passed with 57% of Ohioans voting to enshrine reproductive freedom into the Constitution. Although a victory, there are those in the Ohio Legislature wanting to deny the will of the people. Continuing to enforce draconian and unpopular laws that are tone deaf from the demands of eight out of 10 Americans. I challenge the men of Cincinnati and the rest of Ohio to get involved and help support women’s basic rights to healthcare, privacy and bodily autonomy.
What can men do?
Men can vote for candidates who believe everyone should have bodily autonomy and keep politicians out of conversations between women and their doctors. Most importantly, men can speak to women about this issue without shame or judgment. Unwind patriarchal ideals that have subjugated us for centuries. Show empathy and understanding for a very human and deeply emotional issue, because we are on the same team. When women win, men win.
Women successfully fought for their right to vote. Women left the household and worked in the factories, helping America defeat fascism. Women fought for civil rights and racial equality. Women fought for economic equality and abortion rights. Women fought for Marriage Equality and LGBTQ+ protections. Time after time throughout history, women get things done. Now more than ever it’s our responsibility to help them succeed. Men, remember your silence has consequences.
They lied.
They said they would not overturn Roe v. Wade if appointed to the Supreme Court. They lied.
They said the states would do the right thing if given the power over reproductive freedom. They lied.
The states said they would allow exceptions for rape and incest. They lied.
They said they would still allow abortions for the life of the mother. They lied.
They said they would not force children under 12 years old to carry a fetus to term. They lied.
They said they would not criminalize private healthcare choices. They lied.
They said they would not prosecute those who aided women in pursuing bodily autonomy. They lied.
They said women would be safe to travel to states that did allow reproductive freedom without fear of prosecution. They lied.
They told doctors they would be able to make medical decisions without fear of criminal liability. They lied.
They said they would not force women to have c-sections to preserve the life of a fetus. They lied.
They said frozen embryos would not be given personhood. They lied.
They said they wouldn’t pass laws, monitoring miscarriages, and seizing medical documents. They lied.
They said they would not freeze women’s bank accounts who are suspected of buying birth control or morning after pills. They lied.
They said they would not imprison women for refusing to become pregnant at their husband’s request. They lied.
They said they would not remove women from the workplace and force them to be a stay-at-home mom. They lied.
They said they would never take away a woman’s right to vote. They lied.
The states said they would allow exceptions for rape and incest. They lied.
They said they would still allow abortions for the life of the mother. They lied.
They said they would not force children under 12 years old to carry a fetus to term. They lied.
They said they would not criminalize private healthcare choices. They lied.
They said they would not prosecute those who aided women in pursuing bodily autonomy. They lied.
They said women would be safe to travel to states that did allow reproductive freedom without fear of prosecution. They lied.
They told doctors they would be able to make medical decisions without fear of criminal liability. They lied.
They said they would not force women to have c-sections to preserve the life of a fetus. They lied.
They said frozen embryos would not be given personhood. They lied.
They said they wouldn’t pass laws, monitoring miscarriages, and seizing medical documents. They lied.
They said they would not freeze women’s bank accounts who are suspected of buying birth control or morning after pills. They lied.
They said they would not imprison women for refusing to become pregnant at their husband’s request. They lied.
They said they would not remove women from the workplace and force them to be a stay-at-home mom. They lied.
They said they would never take away a woman’s right to vote. They lied.
They lied. They lied. They lied.
How far down the list did you go before you said to yourself – wait, have they done that yet?
Cleveland Canova is a Louisiana native, a former Hughes High School American history teacher and a Democratic candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives. Canova is running to represent District 56, which includes Lebanon, Mason and parts of Warren County.
Cleveland Canova is a Louisiana native, a former Hughes High School American history teacher and a Democratic candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives. Canova is running to represent District 56, which includes Lebanon, Mason and parts of Warren County.
