GUEST POST: Thanksgiving is almost here, and as we approach this national day of gratitude, the pro-life movement should remember all the things we have to be grateful for this year. A landmark year for the Pro-Life Generation, 2022 has given us many reasons to celebrate our victories. Here are the top three accomplishments we’re thankful for this year:  

Reversal of Roe v. Wade 

On June 24, 2022, history was forever changed as Roe v. Wade was thrown into the ash heap of history. The Supreme Court, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, ruled that “the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.” This 5:4 decision was a major victory for the pro-life movement as Roe v. Wade was in effect for almost 50 years. Between 1973-2022, 63 million innocent lives were taken due to Roe, but thankfully Dobbs will help save thousands of babies’ lives each year.  

More pro-life Legislation 

The reversal of Roe led to many other pro-life victories this year, including 13 states that immediately prohibited abortion in one way or another due to life-saving laws. Many states had life-saving laws that were unenforceable because of Roe, but many have gone into effect since the Dobbs ruling. These states are North Dakota, South Dakota, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Missouri.  

On top of this, eight states also passed new laws regulating abortion in 2022. 

• Idaho and Oklahoma both passed heartbeat bills. 
• Florida, Arizona, and Kentucky passed 15-week limitations to help save the preborn. 
• Indiana passed a law requiring medical personnel to ask pregnant women seeking an abortion whether they were coerced into that decision. 

• South Dakota passed a law that requires pregnant women seeking Chemical Abortion pills to get a minimum of three appointments before getting all the drugs. 
• West Virginia passed a law prohibiting abortions because of physical and intellectual disabilities.  

On November 5, 2022, the midterm elections were also held, and the pro-life movement sored major victories there, as well. We saw 17 pro-life governors elected, including four freshmen and 13 incumbents. These are just 17 states where life will be protected more, and the United States House of Representatives has also gained the ability to be a backstop against abortion extremism with a Republican majority.  

Conversations that Change our Culture 

Conversation is an integral part of the pro-life movement. A conversation with a pregnant woman in a grocery store can be the conversation which compels her to choose life. A conversation with a young man on a college campus can be the conversation which leads him to decide to support his pregnant girlfriend. A conversation with a young girl at a conference can be the difference that turns her into a pro-life activist. 

Each and every single conversation plants a seed that can change one or more lives in big ways. Thus far this year, Students for Life of America students have had 33,493 conversations on-campus with staff members present. In 2,264 of these conversations, a mind was changed. In 10,070 of these conversations, someone was activated to promote a culture of life. This is not to mention the countless one-on-one student conversations that have happened.  

The Pro-Life Generation has a lot to be thankful for this year because life is indeed winning and will continue to do so as long as we are willing to stand up and be a voice for the millions who have no voice. 

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