7.21.2005

Causes in Common

Here's a LGBT website that makes some strong claims for procreation rights. Basically, they want no regulation at all, and they insist that it must be affordable and safe (meaning, we subsidize the research and pay for the procedures), so that they have the same practical ability to have children that opposite sex marriages have naturally. While they don't mention same-sex procreation and seem to focus on access to donor conception and surrogacy, there is no doubt that when they say they want full autonomy to make reproduction decisions, that they are opposed to any ban on anything. So, it is not just me who points out how gay rights are in conflict with responsible ethical procreation, gay rights groups are not very shy about it either. When gay rights groups said it was about hospital visitation, they were not telling the whole truth.

1 comment:

John Howard said...

Causes in Common Statement of Principles
We affirm the right to individual autonomy in all matters related to consensual sexuality and reproduction.

We affirm the rights of individuals to control over their own bodies and to intimate engagement with members of their own sex as fundamental to the liberation of lgbt people.

We are dedicated to effecting positive social change for the purpose of eradicating all forms of homophobia in our society and for the full attainment of the right to choose to reproduce.

Governmental intervention in the reproductive lives of women and men limits not only their ability to make a choice about abortion; it also limits their access to safe and affordable reproductive assistance. We affirm the right of all women to safe and affordable abortions and the right of all people to safe and affordable reproductive technologies and assistance.

The conflation of immorality and sex engaged in for purposes of pleasure or outside heterosexual civil marriage lead to the creation of policies that serve to undermine our democracy, our right to privacy and our freedom to choose the direction of our reproductive and sexual lives. It also serves to weaken what should be an unbridgeable divide between church and state as mandated by the Constitution. We affirm the necessity of a secular state to the preservation of democratic principles.

We acknowledge the detrimental impact that U.S. policy has had on the reproductive and sexual freedoms of peoples throughout the world and we situate our alliance in a global context.

Get Involved!
To have your organization involved in securing our freedoms to privacy, reproduction and family, sign and return this Pledge of Commitment form.

Causes in Common Pledge of Commitment

We, the undersigned, believe that reproduction and sexuality are profoundly and intimately related aspects of human experience. Reproduction is a choice that evolves out of sexuality, not an unavoidable consequence of sexuality. We affirm that individual human autonomy in the conduct of our sexual lives is integral to our liberty.

Therefore, we are committed to the following principles:

• The right to individual autonomy in all matters related to adult consensual sexuality, gender expression and reproduction.

• The right of individuals to have control over their own bodies and the right to engage in intimate behavior with members of one’s own sex are fundamental to the liberation of LGBT people.

• The right of all women to safe and affordable abortions and the right of all people to access safe and affordable reproductive technologies and assistance.

• Social change for the purpose of eradicating all forms of homophobia and transphobia, and for the full attainment of the right to choose to reproduce.


Therefore, ______________________________ (name of organization) endorses freedom of choice for women and reproductive freedom for all, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We commit to incorporating the principles of reproductive choice and LGBT equality and liberation into our organizational values and programs.


(Organization Representative, Title & Signature)

Allies who have signed the Causes in Common Pledge of Commitment*:

• Basic Rights Oregon

• Center for HIV Law & Policy (New York)

• The Center Orange County

• COLAGE (Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere)

• Compass (LGBT Center of Palm Beach County)

• Choice USA

• Empire State Pride Agenda (New York)

• Equality New Mexico

• Family Pride Coalition

• Freedom to Marry

• Gay & Lesbian Community Center of South Florida

• Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund

• Gay City Health Project (Seattle)

• Gay Men of African Descent

• Gender Education and Advocacy

• Kansas City Anti-Violence Project

• Kansas Unity and Pride Alliance

• L. A. Gay & Lesbian Center

• Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (New York)

• Lesbian/Gay Community Services Center of Greater Cleveland

• Lyon-Martin Women’s Health Services (San Francisco)

• The Mautner Project for Lesbian Health

• NARAL Pro-Choice New York

• National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities

• National Association of LGBT Community Centers

• National Center for Lesbian Rights

• National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

• National Youth Advocacy Coalition

• New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project

• Pacific Pride Foundation (Santa Barbara)

• Queers for Economic Justice

• Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.

• The Center/Home for GLBT in Metro DC

• Triangle Foundation (Michigan)

• Wingspan (Arizona)



* As of April 22, 2005