Abortion, gay marriage: 4 constitutional amendments approved by Virginia Legislature
1. Establishing a right to abortion
House Joint Resolution 1 was approved by the Virginia House of Delegates in a 64-34 vote on Jan. 14 and a 21-18 vote on Jan. 16. The vote fell along party lines, with all support coming from Democrats and all opposition coming from Republicans.
The measure would establish a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” in the Bill of Rights of the Virginia Constitution, clarifying that “every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including the ability to make and carry out decisions related to one’s own prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, abortion care, miscarriage management, and fertility care.”
“An individual’s right to reproductive freedom shall not be, directly or indirectly, denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means,” the proposed amendment states.
While the proposal permits the state to “regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester,” it requires the allowance of late-term abortions in cases where a physician has determined that they are necessary to “protect the life or physical or mental health” of a pregnant woman or that “the fetus is not viable.”
Now that Virginia legislators have approved the proposed constitutional amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions, it will go before voters this fall.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
