For the third time in the
past consecutive General Elections, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky
Mountains today vowed to defeat the so-called “personhood” initiative.
This announcement comes after Personhood Colorado, the measure’s
sponsor, submitted the required number of signatures to qualify its
ballot initiative on the November 2012 election.
Colorado voters overwhelmingly rejected “personhood” in 2008 and 2010 – by three-to-one margins. While the 2012 ballot initiative uses slightly different language than in years past, it has the same harmful outcomes.
"Personhood" amendments ban all abortion, specifically for victims of rape and incest. Personal, private medical decisions would be taken out of a woman’s hands, and controlled by politicians and the government. This includes important decisions such as what birth control to use, fertility treatments, the treatment of miscarriages, and whether or not to end a pregnancy. These decisions are best left to a woman, her family, and her faith.
The timing of Personhood Colorado’s announcement coincides with data from a new poll conducted by Lake Research Partners* showing that 64 percent of Colorado voters have a very or somewhat favorable view of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
“Personhood” measures have been attempted in other states, but just like in Colorado, these efforts have proved futile. Most recently:
- Voters in Mississippi— sometimes characterized as the most conservative state in the union— defeated “personhood” by a 16-point margin in the November 2011 election.
- “Personhood” supporters in Ohio, Florida, Nevada, California, and Montana failed to get enough signatures to get on the November 2012 ballot.
- The Supreme Court of Oklahoma roundly rejected a “personhood” effort in April.
PPRM is looking forward to working with our coalition partners and reengaging the people and organizations who pledged their time, talent, and resources to defeat the 2008 and 2010 initiatives.
For more information on how you can get involved, please visit Nopersonhood.org or “like” the No On Personhood Facebook page.
*May 2012 survey of 801 likely 2012 Colorado voters.