The separation of church and state was one of the greatest things this country got right. It not only protects the populous from having to adhere to a doctrine they do not believe in, but also protects the church from governmental overreach. I am tired of watching people act like that principle suddenly does not matter when the topic is abortion. I keep hearing the same thing over and over: laws that control other people’s bodies being pushed by people who want everyone else to live by their religious beliefs. If your faith or personal values lead you to oppose abortion, you have the right to live by those values; however you do not have the right to force your beliefs into legislation for the rest of us to follow.  If you do not want an abortion, do not get one. It really is that simple. What is not acceptable is forcing the rest of us to adhere to a religion we do not follow.

This is bigger than one argument or one election cycle. This affects anyone who believes personal freedom, bodily autonomy, and human rights should not disappear the minute somebody else says their faith gives them the right to decide for you. A lot of us do not share those beliefs, and even people who do should understand how dangerous it is when government starts enforcing one religious view as law. That is not freedom. That is not neutrality. And it is not justice.

State lawmakers need to pass clear protections for abortion access and keep religious doctrine out of medical policy. Our laws should be based on rights, evidence, privacy, and the real lives of the people who have to live with these decisions. No one should lose healthcare because a politician decided one set of religious beliefs belongs to everybody. Protect abortion access, protect bodily autonomy, and protect the line between church and state.

If you believe no one should be forced to live under somebody else’s religion, please sign this petition. Add your name if you believe human rights should not depend on which beliefs hold the most political power.