Jan. 22 marked the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled that the right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution protects the right of a woman to choose whether to continue a pregnancy to term or to have an abortion. Recently, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Family Planning Association of Maine, Maine Women’s Resource Center, and USM Women and Gender Studies brought more than 50 community members together to discuss that important decision.

Young people today have grown up with Roe v. Wade as the law of the land, and most Americans still strongly support that decision. According to a recent Hart Research poll, 62 percent of voters oppose overturning the landmark decision.

Unfortunately, anti-choice politicians are poised to introduce legislation that will take away health care benefits and rights from American women.

In the first few weeks of the legislative session, we’re seeing bills that will take away the privacy rights of women and youths when it comes to protecting their health.

That’s why, on the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the League of Young Voters remains committed to fighting efforts at the state and federal levels to take away women’s health care. With grassroots supporters in every state, including Maine, we join Planned Parenthood and others in striving to educate the public about this threat and will work aggressively to defeat legislation that threatens to take away women’s health coverage and care.

Nicola Wells, interim co-director

Maine League of Young Voters/Maine League of Young Voters Education Fund, Lewiston