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Four years ago, the Supreme Court essentially denied women the right to an abortion. Extremists played the long game building a machine denying women their human rights, their privacy, their access to health care.
Working in women’s health care for 40 years, I can say with certainty that no woman enjoys making the difficult decision to have an abortion. I helped navigate safe choices respectfully and advocated for those choices without judgement. It’s not easy.
When we started the Women’s Health Center in 1993 our mission was to provide women a safe, confidential space to access respectful care. We helped many navigate their sexuality and contraceptive options, reducing the need to make a difficult choice about ending an unwanted pregnancy. Now those safe spaces are disappearing.
Since overturning Roe v. Wade, abortions in this country have nearly doubled. I believe Sen. Susan Collins helped cause this debacle, though she avoids taking responsibility. I think the right to an abortion in Maine exists only because we have a governor who cares about women’s rights.
Women’s health cannot continue to be at the whim of a politician. We must enshrine the rights of women nationally. We must pass the Equal Rights Amendment! We must reform what I consider the corrupt and misogynist Supreme Court.
I believe Graham Platner will forge this path in the U.S. Senate. He is a born leader, and I firmly believe his leadership skills will influence those more senior. I believe Collins must be defeated so we can put women’s rights into law so this situation does not recur.
Linda Robinson
Bar Harbor