Parental rights at center of reproductive health debate

The anti-abortion movement has framed certain protections for abortion care as attacks on parental rights.

Opponents of successful reproductive rights ballot measures in Ohio, Missouri, Maryland and New York often deployed this rhetoric while campaigning.

Parental rights were not included in Ohio’s Issue 1 ballot language that passed in November 2023. But that didn’t stop first lady Fran DeWine from saying in an ad that the measure “would deny parents the right to be involved when their daughter is making the most important decision of her life,” Ohio Capital Journal reported.