Abortion rights group starts advocacy campaign aimed at men

Chicago Tribune (August 9, 2017): Abortion rights group starts advocacy campaign aimed at men, by Rick Pearson

In an effort to engage men, an abortion rights group in Illinois has started a campaign which is named "CallBullS***" or "CallBS". The goal of the campaign is to show men that they do not face the same type of restrictions on their reproductive health as do women. The group hopes to promote awareness of a bill in the state legislature that would expand abortion rights, but that the governor, Bruce Rauner, says he will veto.  

The digital media campaign will feature men supporting abortion rights. The campaign will be spread using various social media platforms. The co-founder and executive director of Men4Choice, Oren Jacobson, says that the name is how the campaign first evolved. The name he says it how most men react when they hear about possible restrictions to their reproductive health and Jacobson believes the name will strongly speak to men. 

Personal PAC CEO, Terry Cosgrove, one of the organizations leading this campaign, says that this is not just about abortion, but about all reproductive health services and access to birth control. He says the idea was created organically, simply by asking men how they would feel about needing to travel to other states to receive Viagra or a vasectomy. "We decided to give men a space to get involved and take action".

The legislative effort is being conducted by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly in Illinois as a way to ensure abortion remains legal in the state if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The bill would also remove restrictions on using state funding for elective abortions for women on Medicaid and to provide abortion coverage to Illinois state employees. Lawmakers however are hesitant to send Governor Rauner the bill as they are unsure of his position and whether or not he veto it.