First Amendment Advocates to Bowling Green City Council: Proposed Ordinance is Unconstitutional
Center for Christian Virtue, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Christian Employers Alliance Co-sign Opposition to Proposed Legislation
BOWLING GREEN, OH – This morning, three organizations that fight for First Amendment freedoms across Ohio and the nation sent a letter to the Bowling Green City Council informing the members that the proposed “Reproductive Health Decisions” ordinance violates the U.S. Constitution and, if passed, would invite costly litigation against the town. The letter also detailed how the proposed ordinance would limit access to women’s health services throughout Bowling Green.
Center for Christian Virtue, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Christian Employers Alliance sent the letter urging the Council to reject the ordinance. Proposed by Councilman Nick Rubando, the ordinance would add “sexual or reproductive health decisions” to the definition of “sex” in city law, effectively forcing pro-life nonprofit organizations that serve all women in need to make abortion referrals.
The letter says:
“While framed as a measure to help women, the proposed amendment would hurt them because it would force organizations that help women into an ultimatum—either violate their mission statements or stop helping people. That sort of ultimatum would compromise community access to critical support and services related to, among other things, pregnancy, childcare, and mental health.”
You can read the full letter here.
“The proposed ordinance is politics at its worst,” said Aaron Baer, President of Center for Christian Virtue. “Councilman Rubando is attempting to punish pro-life advocates, but the people who are most harmed by this ordinance are the hundreds of low-income women who receive free resources and services from pregnancy centers.”
“These types of political ploys are not only harmful to Bowling Green residents, they’re also a massive waste of taxpayer dollars. Time and time again, the courts have firmly rejected laws enacted by governments in an attempt to restrict the First Amendment freedoms of political opponents. If passed, Bowling Green could join the long list of local governments that have had to pay hefty legal bills for violating the U.S. Constitution,” Baer said.
The next City Council meeting is Monday, November 7, at 7:00 pm. You can read the proposed ordinance here.
