Michigan Satanists bolster battle for abortion rights with blog

Detroit’s self-professed Satanists have launched their latest bid to advocate for abortion rights.

Jex Blackmore, director of the Detroit, Michigan chapter of The Satanic Temple, earlier this month started a blog called Unmother to “publicize” her abortion, Ms Blackmore told The Independent.

“When there is information, it typically focuses on the woman's decision and whether or not she regrets choosing abortion,” Ms Blackmore said. “I wanted to write about it in hopes of breaking down the social taboo, stand in solidarity with others who have already been through what I'm experiencing and empower other women who may find themselves in a similar position.”

The blog follows an ongoing campaign, launched by abortion rights advocates in September, to stop the stigma around the procedure by encouraging women to speak out about about their abortions on social media using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion.

The Satanic Temple, an organization that uses Milton’s Satan to counter what they see as violations of the US Constitution’s guarantee to separate Church and State, has in recent months engaged in several campaigns against legislation that in the past few years has aimed to restrict access to reproductive procedures including abortion. Those restrictions include, in many states, a 72-hour waiting period, during which time a woman is required to receive educational materials that abortion rights advocates say are not medically accurate.

In May, The Satanic Temple’s attorney filed a lawsuit in state and federal courts on behalf of a Temple member referred to in court documents seen by The Independent as Mary Doe. Satanic belief, the documents argued, demands that decisions about Doe’s body are “subject to her will alone” and exempt her from the waiting period and other recently imposed measures that abortion rights advocates say act as deterrents.

The litigation had for its aim to turn on its head Missouri’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which stipulates that the law must not excessively intrude upon the individual’s religious liberty. Law's like the state's RFRA, a version of which exists in 21 states, have traditionally been used, for example, to argue in favor of business owners refusing services to gay, lesbian, queer and transgender clientele on the basis of the business owner’s faith.

The litigation and her new blog are both part of what Ms Blackmore said is a mounting effort to bolster abortion rights.

“In addition to the exemptions, we are currently working on a resource site for women to provide greater access to impartial information to help guide them through the abortion experience,” she said. “We have also participated in political theatre as a way to parallel the grotesque protest tactics of the anti-choice movement and draw attention to religious bias in our legislature.”

Despite their efforts, The Satanic Temple has faced some opposition from fellow abortion rights and civil liberties advocates who feel that their fight is too polarizing.

At a time when she and other abortion rights advocates say they are under siege from social conservatives aiming to erode legally guaranteed procedures — particularly with legislation like 72-hour waiting periods — Ms Blackmore stands by her methods.

“I understand that we are somewhat difficult to digest for many people, however, access to health care free from theocratic mandates is vitally important to us and we will continue to push for a fair and equal healthcare system as a result. ,” she said.

“I would also argue that the anti-choice movement already characterizes those of us who are pro-choice as "satanic," however we embrace this characterization and interpret Satanism on our own terms rather than allow it to control our actions.