Learn the history of Florida's constitutional protection for privacy/abortion enacted in 1980
July 5, 2022
I have not had the energy to write as often as I'd like. Most likely, I will continue to write, but only 3 to 4 days a week for the next couple months.
A lot happened over the Independence Day weekend. Another tragic mass murder took place in Illinois on July 4th. It was preventable, but the Republicans in Congress, on the Supreme Court of the United States, and in many state governments won't allow it. There was a poor little 2-year-old boy left orphaned, with both parents among the murder victims. In Florida, we are no strangers to senseless mass murders, including massacres at The Pulse in Orlando and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
There are other topics I want to write about, such as revisiting the homeowners' insurance crisis with new developments (more insurers are fleeing Florida), and the affordable housing crisis is also top of mind for me. But for now, I and so many others keep getting pulled back to abortion.
In the past few days, a state judge delayed implementation of Florida's 15-week abortion prohibition, but the state appealed putting it automatically back into effect earlier today.
The story of how Florida has a constitutional protection for privacy is a good one. It goes back to the late 1970s, and was specifically shepherded into our state's constitution by a law professor named Patricia Dore. Back then, the abortion question had not been seized upon by propagandists for political purposes. Instead, the abortion positions of elected officials in both major parties were all over the map, and stronger opposition to abortion came not from southern protestants, but from Catholics in New England.
Florida's constitutional amendment for privacy was approved by a wide margin in the election of November 1980, and was specifically intended to protect abortion rights, among other rights. This demonstrated strong foresight, as Roe v. Wade was not under widespread attack at that point. Unfortunately, in 2022, the Supreme Courts of Florida and the United States are now so packed with right-wing revisionists that it remains to be seen whether they will overrule the Florida Constitution by judicial fiat.
I think it's vital to understand this history to be better informed about where we are now, and more empowered to fight for the nationwide restoration of this unalienable right. Therefore, I am recommending that you, as an astute reader of Letters from a Floridian, read this article from a month ago by Kathryn Varn, featured in The Tallahassee Democrat:
"Florida has a unique right protecting abortion. Its framers designed it that way."
Thank you so much for writing about this! I am currently doing research on it and I’m shocked at what the florida Supreme Court (& our governor) is currently doing, it’s blatantly unconstitutional and anti-democratic, as Floridians have voted on this issue multiple times.
I wouldn't worry about not being able to get an abortion. If anyone is really worried about getting raped, then help to stop the drug cartels from purchasing properties along Texas border.
"Biden's open borders will mean a much more violent America. Much much worse than it is now. Gang members pouring in. Terrorists from Middle Eastern countries have been caught but others have most likely slipped through. Drug cartels actually buying up homes along Texas border they are running the show now under traitor POS Biden. Millions of Latin Americans who are used to violence will rob you without a second thought. It happened to me in broad daylight in store parking lot in a nice area. I am lucky to be alive. Hispanic couple with baby in their car. The guy had a gun in his waistband."