New billboards erected around the Cleveland area on Tuesday by Ohio's largest abortion provider tout many alleged positive things about abortion, calling the procedure "a blessing," "a family value," and more.
What are the details?
The nonprofit organization, Preterm — which unapologetically boasts "world-class abortion care" — has 16 billboards that include the phrase, "Abortion is ________," and fills in the blank with sentiments such as "safer than childbirth," "a second chance," "gender equality," "life-saving," and "normal."
Other Cleveland-area billboards fill in the blank with "liberty," "a blessing," "health care," "sacred," "right for me," "a family value," "necessary," "good medicine," "a parenting decision," "hope," and "your right."
The organization's aim for the billboards is to spark conversation about abortion and shift it "away from the black-and-white political rhetoric."
Nancy Starner, development director for Preterm, said in a news release obtained by Cleveland.com on Tuesday that the organization seeks to "push people to think about abortion in new, diverse ways" with the billboards.
"We want the people in our community who have had abortions to know that they’re not alone," Starner added.
On its website, Preterm encourages supporters to share images of the billboards using the hashtags #AllOfTheAbove and #MyAbortionMyLife. (Images via Preterm) pic.twitter.com/0w9BLilS4d
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) January 2, 2018
Is there more?
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) in December signed a bill prohibiting abortions based on fetal Down syndrome diagnosis.
House Bill 214, the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act, prohibits abortion procedures on women seeking to abort their babies as a result of a Down syndrome diagnosis.
According to Cleveland.com, the law — which will go into effect in March — says a physician who performs an abortions, and who was aware of a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis "could be charged with a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in prison."
A woman would not be punished for electing to have the procedure.