Minors' Abortion Rights Initiative Stirs Up Conflict

After a similar proposition was defeated last year, California voters will again consider a measure that would require parental notification for females under 18 seeking an abortion.

Like last year’s push for parental notification, Proposition 85 would require physicians to notify parents of abortion procedures unless that requirement is waived by a judge.

This year, the proposed state constitutional amendment does not refer to the fetus as a “child” and keeps the records of judges who grant waivers confidential—changes supporters hope will make the measure less controversial.

“Now the bill is not so much about abortion as it is about parental notification,” said Liz Saroki, co-president of Berkeley Students for Life.

Despite the effort to soften controversy surrounding Proposition 85, many opponents still say the initiative—backed by groups such as Evangelicals for Social Action and the Traditional Values Coalition—is part of a larger campaign to restrict reproductive rights.

“These are all organizations that are a part of a larger effort to outlaw all abortions,” said Ashley Morris, co-president of UC Berkeley ACLU.

Though almost 70 percent of Alameda County voters opposed last November’s version of the measure, it was only rejected by about 53 percent of voters statewide in the election’s tightest proposition race.

For both sides, the safety of girls is again at the center of the debate.

“We’ve seen data that propositions like 85 have reduced teen abortions,” Saroki said.

She pointed to a September study conducted by Florida State University that indicated gonorrhea rates among females declined in states that passed parental notification laws. The study used that statistic as a measure for risky sexual behavior.

But others argue that the proposition will endanger the lives of girls from violent or sexually abusive homes.

To navigate around notification laws, girls may resort to back-alley abortions or travel across state lines to receive illegal abortions, Morris said.

“I don’t like putting girls in a position where they have to decide between family harmony or their health and future,” said UC Berkeley graduate student Jay Purcell.

Supporters of Proposition 85 believe it will encourage proper communication among family members about abortion procedures.

“It’s important to realize that abortions are invasive. They often require at least one follow-up, antibiotics, and medication afterwards,” Saroki said. “If the parents know about it they can help you follow up on it.”

But opponents argue the judicial bypass provision of the proposition is not a reasonable option for girls who cannot afford to notify their parents because of violent home situations or other circumstances.

“A young woman is pregnant, scared, and probably in the most vulnerable state of her life and we’re going to require her to navigate through the bureaucracy of California’s overcrowded court system,” Morris said.

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