Abortion Bush Abbott

State Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, says he has changed his stance on abortion. He now espouses a pro-choice position.

(Eric Gay/AP File Photo)

Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids

Democratic state Rep. Brandon Dillon represents the 75th House District, which includes part of the city of Grand Rapids. He is in his third and final term in the House.

Growing up, I always considered myself "pro-life." As someone who was raised in Grand Rapids, went to Catholic school for 13 years, and has been blessed with beautiful (and active!) twin 12-year-old boys of my own, it was just part of who I was and the community I came from. That's why, as an elected official at both the county and state level, I previously sought the endorsement of Right to Life of Michigan, and have met the group's criteria for endorsement.



That changed in 2012. I did not seek their endorsement then, and I have no plans to do it again.



As an elected official for the last eight years, I've spoken with dozens of constituents and advocates -- not least of which is my wife -- on this issue and heard arguments from both sides as well as heart-wrenching personal stories. As a member of the Michigan House of Representatives for the past four years, I have had the privilege of interacting with many strong, intelligent women who challenged me to reconsider my views on many issues, including access to safe and legal abortion.

During that time, the Legislature has considered a number of bills seeking to place government between a woman, her doctor and her family. One bill placed such onerous restrictions on women's health care centers that it was clear to me it was nothing more than an attempt to harm, rather than protect, women. Another bill, which thankfully failed, would have required any woman seeking an abortion to submit herself to a humiliating and invasive ultrasound.



Worst of all, the Legislature passed a law prohibiting Michigan women from buying a standard insurance policy that would cover the costs of an abortion, even in the case of miscarriage or rape. These extreme bills made it clear to me that this is a deeply personal issue that must be decided by women themselves, not by legislatures dominated by men.



Beyond issues of morality, it's time we faced the fact that the rates of abortion in countries where it is legal are nearly the same as in countries where it is prohibited or highly restricted, according to the World Health Organization and the Guttmacher Institute. That is a sobering fact. Simply banning abortion has never stopped women from seeking them - it only makes it more dangerous for women. In the countries where abortion is illegal, the incidence of unsafe abortion is significantly higher, resulting in tens of thousands of women dying each year. I cannot and will not vote for laws that I know will endanger the lives of Michigan women.



Change is never easy. It is even harder to change a view on an issue that seemed so integral to my environment and upbringing. I certainly still believe that life is precious, and that we should do everything we can to reduce the incidence of abortion. Studies have shown that we can do this by offering comprehensive and age-appropriate sex education for students, increasing access to contraception, encouraging adoption, and supporting new mothers and infants. Making abortion illegal and unsafe does not accomplish that goal.



I join people across the country who are rethinking the abortion issue and seeing the moral and practical reasons for supporting a woman's ability to choose. In recent weeks, Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democratic congressman from Ohio, announced that he has evolved on the issue and now believes it is better to trust women and their families - not politicians and special interest groups - to make decisions about their own lives.



I now firmly believe that the Supreme Court ruled correctly 42 years ago in Roe v. Wade. Moving forward, I will continue to oppose any effort to undermine a women's right to make decisions about something so personal as their reproductive health care.



I understand that the issue of legal abortion strikes at the very heart of many people's sense of morality and justice on both sides of a very contentious debate. But I also believe that protecting women's health and economic security while lowering abortion rates should be just as important, and these are my priorities.

A note from Rep. Dillon: If you have any questions about this article, please contact Rep. Dillon at (517) 373-2668, toll-free at (888) 750-3326 or via e-mail at bdillon@house.mi.gov