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"Fertilized eggs are people too" movement will try again with personhood initiative
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Last year’s “personhood” amendment was defeated by a 3-to-1 margin, but the amendment’s supporters are determined to try again.
In 2008, Colorado voters rejected a “personhood” initiative, Amendment 48, which would have labeled embryos as "persons" at the moment of fertilization, a move which would have had numerous legal consequences. 73% of voters defeated the proposal, which was so extreme in its wording that not only would abortion have been made illegal, but even some forms of contraception could have been jeopardized.
The amendment was proposed by Colorado for Equal Rights, an innocuous name that veils the group’s extreme pro-life position. Colorado for Equal Rights received national publicity before last year’s election, largely because the organization, and the proposed amendment, was spearheaded by Christian activist Kristi Burton, 21.
Though the personhood amendment was roundly criticized for its extreme position and unintended consequences – Would a woman who doesn’t know she’s pregnant be committing child abuse by sipping a cocktail? What would fertility doctors do with the scores of fertilized eggs in their laboratories once they are considered people with rights equivalent to adults? -- the amendment’s supporters are unfazed and will try again on the 2010 ballot. Burton is not currently involved in the push to reconsider the personhood amendment.
This time, the personhood initiative supporters plan to be better funded, and they will be helped in this mission by Personhood USA , a coalition to support personhood amendments across the nation. The organization also plans to be better prepared to defend their position this time around, and they have changed the language to close loopholes that could potentially allow cloning. Pro-choice activists have stated they will continue to fight any personhood amendment by educating voters about the consequences of such extreme legislation.
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