Letter to the editor: Why we need to protect Roe now more than ever

When I was a 15-year-old girl living in Massachusetts, I found myself pregnant and I was unable to turn to either of my parents for guidance. I made my way to Planned Parenthood alone, only to be denied access to needed care because the state had a forced parental involvement law in place.

Thankfully, Planned Parenthood stepped in and helped me understand my options with the judicial bypass process. And they were in my corner when I was forced to appear before a judge and answer intimate questions that had nothing to do with my ability to make medical decisions for myself and seemed more focused on assessing my family’s middle-class background. It all felt so arbitrary.

Ultimately, that judge granted my judicial bypass so I could get an abortion, but the need to go through a judicial bypass was traumatizing and stressful – and delayed my care. Thankfully, because the judge decided in my favor, I was able to access the abortion I needed. And because I was not forced to be a parent at 15 years old, I was later able to attend Yale, earn a Ph.D., and eventually start my own business.

I have never regretted my decision. And I will always be grateful to Planned Parenthood for helping a scared, overwhelmed 15-year-old girl. If they had not helped me navigate a terrible situation and an arbitrary law, I am unsure where I would be today.

Until recently, Illinois had its own harmful law on the books, but thankfully, the Parental Notice of Abortion Act was recently repealed thanks to years of work by advocates statewide, including organizations like Planned Parenthood. I stand by Planned Parenthood today because they stand up for the rights of all pregnant people, including me when I needed their support and compassionate care all those years ago.

If the Supreme Court throws away more than 50 years of settled law and overturns Roe v. Wade this year, it will mean that every state that borders Illinois will likely ban abortion. If this happens, millions of pregnant people will lose access to essential health care in their home states, forcing them to travel long distances, seek illegal options, or carry pregnancies against their will.

I stand with Planned Parenthood of Illinois, especially as we approach the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, because everyone has the right to make decisions that are best for their bodies and their lives, including the right to safe and legal abortion.

Anne B.