Ohio Right to Life
FounderJohn C. Willke
TypeNon-governmental organization
PurposeActivism
HeadquartersColumbus, Ohio
President
Mike Gonidakis
Executive director
Peter Range
Websitewww.ohiolife.org

Ohio Right to Life is an anti-abortion group based in Columbus, Ohio. It was established in 1967 by Jack Willke and his wife, Barbara. Its president is Michael Gonidakis, who Ohio Governor John Kasich appointed to the state medical board in 2012.

Activities

Ohio Right to Life was established in 1967 by Jack Willke and his wife, Barbara.[1][2] It was incorporated as the Ohio Right to Life Society Inc., with its main offices located in Cleveland, shortly before a state abortion law change was approved by the Ohio House Health and Welfare Committee.[3]

The organization has drawn criticism from other anti-abortion groups for not supporting six-week abortion bans, which it considers to be too drastic a challenge to Roe v. Wade. Instead, they favor "chipping away" at Roe incrementally, beginning with laws banning abortion after 20 weeks' gestation.[4] In 2011, the organization and the Catholic Conference of Ohio opposed a "fetal heartbeat bill", HB 125, introduced in the legislature in 2011.[5] Because of its opposition to six-week abortion bans, Willke himself criticized the organization that year, saying, "...after nearly 40 years of abortion on demand, it's time to take a bold step forward."[6]

In 2017, the organization attempted to lobby the Ohio state legislature to ban dilation and evacuation, a procedure primarily used for second trimester abortions. The suggested ban would not have made exceptions for rape and incest. The suggested ban would have allowed the procedure in cases where it would save the life of the mother or allowed the procedure for miscarriages.[7]

Leadership

Ohio Right to Life's president is Michael Gonidakis, who was appointed to the state medical board in 2012 by Governor John Kasich.[8] Peter Range is executive director as of 2023.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Right to Life opens Ross County chapter". Detroit Free Press. February 7, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  2. ^ Eaton, Emilie (February 21, 2015). "Cincinnati Right to Life founder dies". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "Group To Fight Abortion Law Change". The Times Recorder. Zanesville, Ohio. July 3, 1967. p. 3. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Thompson, Chrissie (December 12, 2016). "Ohio's 'heartbeat' abortion bill poses Kasich's first test in Trump era". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  5. ^ Eckholm, Erik (December 5, 2011). "Anti-Abortion Groups Are Split on Legal Tactics". The New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Eckholm, Erik (December 4, 2011). "Ohio Bill Splits Anti-Abortion Forces on Legal Tactics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  7. ^ Borchardt, Jackie (February 9, 2017). "Ohio Right to Life seeks to ban most abortions after 13 weeks". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  8. ^ Gross, Allie (December 2, 2015). "John Kasich's Quiet Campaign To Cut Abortion Access". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  9. ^ Ax, Joseph (November 2, 2023). "Abortion foes in Ohio aim to snap losing streak with 2024 election looming". Reuters. Retrieved November 4, 2023.

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