News & Commentary

Too often, reproductive issues are discussed only in sound bites and talking points, on posters and in slogans. The ACLU of Illinois is working to change that.

Cross-Posted at the ACLU's Blog of Rights.

The ACLU of Illinois has been fighting for reproductive freedom and for vulnerable teens for nearly 40 years. Unfortunately, we lost a round in our battle against compelled parental involvement in a teen's decision to have an abortion.

Lorie Chaiten, director of the reproductive rights project for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois answered frequently asked questions regarding parental notification laws in Illinois Feb. 5 on The Huffington Post.

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Last week, the ACLU of Illinois asked a state court to block enforcement of Illinois' Parental Notice of Abortion Act. We presented extensive and compelling evidence that the newly-effective law puts Illinois teens at significant risk for serious and irreversible harm. Purportedly seeking to promote family communication, the law ignores some basic realities: first, most minors already involve their parents in their abortion decision; second, where they cannot, it is for good reason.

I have bad news. After 26 years of hard fought litigation, we lost our epic battle to protect Illinois teens from the disastrous, and sometimes dangerous, consequences of compelled parental or judicial notice of the teen's pregnancy and decision to have an abortion!