Four years ago, the Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to an abortion. Extremists played the long game, building a machine denying women their human rights, their privacy and their access to healthcare.

Working in women’s healthcare for 40 years, I can say with certainty that no woman enjoys making the difficult decision to have an abortion. I helped navigate safe choices respectfully and advocated for those choices without judgment. It’s not easy. 

When we started the Women’s Health Center, in 1993, our mission was to provide women a safe, confidential space to access respectful care. We helped many navigate their sexuality and contraceptive options, reducing the need to make a difficult choice about ending an unwanted pregnancy. Now those safe spaces are disappearing. 

Since overturning Roe v. Wade, abortions in this country have doubled. Sen. Susan Collins helped cause this debacle, though she avoids taking responsibility. The right to an abortion in Maine exists only because we have a governor who cares about women’s rights. Women’s health cannot continue to be at the whim of a politician. We must enshrine the rights of women nationally. We must pass the Equal Rights Amendment. We must reform the corrupt and misogynist Supreme Court.

Graham Platner will forge this path in the U.S. Senate. He is a born leader, and I firmly believe his leadership skills will influence those more senior. Susan Collins must be defeated so we can put women’s rights into law so this situation does not recur.

Linda Robinson, CNM
Bar Harbor