A sex trafficking survivor is raising concerns that an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision could force pregnancy resource centers to shut down, depriving women of the support that she says changed her own life.
Jean Marie Davis wrote for The Free Press that after suffering years of abuse and sex trafficking and unexpectedly becoming pregnant, she fled from her trafficker in hopes of finding a better life for her and her child. She said nearly 30 domestic violence shelters in various states refused to help her because her situation was “too severe,” but after a shelter connected her with a New Hampshire pregnancy center, her life began to turn around; the center provided Davis with support and shelter and helped her go through a program to help her recover from abuse.
“It was one of countless experiences that taught me how different pregnancy centers can be from the vast field of social-work outfits and impersonal nonprofits,” Davis wrote.
The center’s director encouraged her to apply for the position of executive director at a pregnancy resource center in Vermont, a role that she landed and still holds today. More than a decade later, her life experience prompts her to voice her worries about the Supreme Court case First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin.
As Zeale previously reported, the case centers around New Jersey Democratic Attorney General Matt Platkin’s demand that First Choice turn over up to a decade of internal records, including donor names and information. First Choice argues the request violates its First Amendment rights, and Davis warns that revealing donors would likely discourage future support as people fear being personally targeted.
She wrote that pregnancy centers offer support for women, children, and families, letting them know they have a choice beyond abortion. Davis also highlighted recent instances of left-wing politicians in other states — such as California, Massachusetts, and Vermont — targeting pregnancy centers for their pro-life work. She wrote that each campaign against pregnancy centers carried a clear message: “There’s no room for compassion toward those who choose life for their children.”
“Pro-abortion advocates make false assumptions about pregnancy resource centers without taking the time to learn about the support we provide,” she continued. “Our doors are open to everyone, regardless of the choices they’ve made in the past or the options they’re considering today.”
Davis added, “This is why we will be awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on First Choice. It will have incredible consequences for organizations like mine, which hope to continue offering lifesaving support in blue states that prefer to offer women nothing but abortion.”