Dear Pro-Life activists,

Let me start by saying, I respect your opinions. I respect your beliefs, and I respect you. But over the past week, as we watched the March for Life, I was asked: “Who are you to question a pro-life movement?”

I am pro-independence. I am pro-choice. And I realize some of you, my friends, have incredibly convincing opinions on life starting at conception. I respect that this, in part, comes from a place of compassion and empathy.

But my disconnect with the your “pro-life” message, aside from the obvious independence issue, is that very rarely have I seen youargueas passionately for children’s healthcare, universal healthcare, poverty, mental health advocacy, etc.And although I’m sure you have a sincere and serious concern over “the unborn”, I feel what really separates this issue from all other matters of life and death is an unqualified, religious or governmental, need to control and shame a woman’s sexuality.

There is a cognitive dissonance amid you and your followers, who claim to protect the “unborn”. For though many of you claim to respect women, and in your minds, you probably think it’s all about “the unborn”, there is an undeniable idea of so-called irresponsibility and selfishness on the part of women that is framed, packed and touted by your movement.

It isn’t just inaccurate. It isn’t just offensive and demeaning. It is absolutely deadly to women; It’s an attack on them and their families, who all have to make difficult choices and should never be shamed for doing so.

But even aside from that, you believe that you are right; Many of you claim that God is the champion of “the unborn”. Many of you claim God’s laws surpass that of mankind. Which you are entitled to believe in. But you put aside the fact that your religious preferences shouldn’t dictate others’ choices.

The right to abortion, is provided on terms that the woman makes this decision under medical council. The right to abortion doesn’t mean giving a woman the right to kill. It means protecting the woman and the baby by supporting and offering them the best options to health care. It means acknowledging the woman as a human being who knows what is best for herself and her child. Denying her this right means oppressing her by making decisions on her behalf.

Women are such an easy target to project self-righteousness. They always have been. Degrading them based on what they wear, what they do, their jobs etc all have happened and are still happens today. And your movement is just another way to continue this “time-honored tradition”.

But I bring you back to the very question that made me sit down and write to you, pro-life activists, today. Who am I to question the pro-life movement?

I am merely a teenage girl from Atlanta Georgia. And why do I question your movement? It’s not because I am a girl, it’s because I believe both lives of women and children matter. And I don’t see how any religious or governmental documents has greater authority to say otherwise.