A group of USF St. Petersburg students are teaming up with a local grassroots campaign called I Am Choice to defeat Florida’s Amendment 6 this November. The state constitutional amendment considers abortion “manslaughter,” and challenges a woman’s health and privacy rights, activists say.
Founded by St. Petersburg native Ayele Hunt, I Am Choice is a human rights campaign founded on the principle of equality for all. The campaign reached out to USFSP students during Get on Board Day and held a meeting on campus for interested students earlier in the month.
Amendment 6 will not allow public funding to be used for end of pregnancy procedures even in life threatening situations, Hunt said, explaining that employees of the state—including fire fighters, nurses and teachers—will not be allowed to use the health insurance their jobs provide them with for abortions. The amendment would also reduce privacy in matters of family planning, allowing all records to become public information, Hunt said, adding that this would make it easier for the government to pass anti-abortion laws in the future.
“It is ridiculous for politicians to assign degrees of severity to circumstances and dictate what constitutes a legitimate reason for an abortion,” said Natalie Witherell, a junior who supports I Am Choice. “A woman is entitled to make this life-altering decision without interference from politicians. It is invasive for one to legally bind another to a system of beliefs, especially one that is not their own.”
Under Amendment 6, embryos would be given full human rights from the time of conception, turning underground abortions into cases of manslaughter, Hunt said. There are 23 states that have already passed laws similar to those proposed by Amendment 6. I Am Choice is fighting to prevent Florida from becoming the 24th.
The campaign advocates that the terms “anti-abortion” and “pro-choice” are not mutually exclusive and that it is possible to be both. “We are not pushing the idea of abortion. No one is actually pro-abortion,” Hunt said, explaining that I Am Choice is not an organization for abortion but for a woman’s right to choose.
“I think anyone should be able to choose. Even if I don’t feel like I could get an abortion because it is against my beliefs, I do not believe that I should be able to stop someone else from having one,” said Patricia Singer, a freshman.
Hunt said that the campaign is not meant to address a moral issue but rather an issue of human rights. In respect to the pro-choice vs. anti-choice debate, I Am Choice wants to redefine the word “choice” to mean “human right”.
This particular election cycle is one of the most important cycles in years not only for women’s rights but for LGBT and other human rights as well, Hunt said. I Am Choice is pushing a “down-the-ballot” initiative to encourage people to vote.
“It is important for our generation to not only participate, but be proactive about causes we are passionate,” said Witherell, who stated every vote does count, despite what many people believe.
I Am Choice is actively recruiting volunteers to help with upcoming campaign events, offering a variety of opportunities so volunteers can choose to participate in ways that interest them.
On Friday, Sept. 28, International Decriminalization of Abortion Day, the campaign is hosting a “Keep it Legal” march at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa at 5 p.m. Other events include a poetry show in downtown St. Petersburg on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. and a concert at Jannus Live on Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The poetry reading will feature poets “coming out” in all different ways, expanding the term beyond its common LGBT association while the concert, serving as an anti-convention, will combine live music acts with appearances by public officials speaking out about Amendment 6.
More information on I Am Choice is available on the campaign’s Facebook page, facebook.com/iamchoice.
