Donna Danna (6 Oct 2024)
"ABORTION AMENDMENT TO THE NEW YORK CONSTITUTION DISGUISED AS "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE" ON VOTING BALLOT"


The N.Y. Equal Rights Protection of Law amendment to the New York constitution on the 11/05/2024 voting ballot in regards to "pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare " is a disguise for "abortion" because the word "abortion" is not used on the ballot. (In my opinion, a Christian should vote "NO" on the back of the ballot because if the amendment is added to the N.Y. constitution, I believe it will further pave the way for abortion up to birth under "any circumstances."  The current N.Y. State law allows abortion up to the 24th week of pregnancy. The Reproductive Health Act, passed in 2019 in New York, further allows abortions past the 24th week of pregnancy if a pregnant individual's life or health is at risk, or if the fetus is not viable.") 

Full Text of Proposition 1 Below:

Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing an amendment to section 11 of article 1 of the constitution, in relation to equal protection

Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 11 of article 1 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

§ 11. a. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed [or], religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, be subjected to any discrimination in [his or hertheir civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state, pursuant to law.

b. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or prevent the adoption of any law, regulation, program, or practice that is designed to prevent or dismantle discrimination on the basis of a characteristic listed in this section, nor shall any characteristic listed in this section be interpreted to interfere with, limit, or deny the civil rights of any person based upon any other characteristic identified in this section.

§  2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be submitted to the people for approval at the general election to be held in the year 2024 in accordance with the provisions of the election law.

Explanation – Matter in underscored is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted.
(I think underscored means the above words in italics.)

"The New York Equal Protection of Law Amendment is a proposed amendment to the New York Constitution that will be subject to a referendum on November 5, 2024."

"The amendment would ensure that no one in New York can be denied rights based on "ethnicity, national origin, age, and disability" or "sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy".[1] Thus expanding the already existing Equal Protection Clause in the Constitution of New York which prohibits the denial of rights for a person based on "race, color, creed, or religion."[2] 

"Supporters argue that amendment would help protect reproductive rights and would help reduce discrimination in the state.[8]"

"The amendment would protect the right to abortion in the state of New York by ensuring that prohibiting abortion would be an unconstitutional form of healthcare discrimination because they would be "singling out one form of reproductive health care and not other kinds of health care", according to Cornell University constitutional law professor Michael C. Dorf."

"New York Republican State Committee is opposed to the amendment with a number of Republican lawmakers including state senator George Borrello and state assemblyman Christopher Tague arguing against the amendment claiming that it would codify late term abortion in the state (even though abortions after the 24th week of pregnancy require a physician's approval in the state), is vary broad and vague in language and may target religious organizations and have expressed opposition under the belief that it may codify a number of transgender rights in the state opposed by the Republican party. The New York Catholic Conference has also expressed opposition to the amendment." FULL STORY at above link.