In the wake of the Dobbs v Jackson SCOTUS decision last Fri overturning Roe v Wade, celebrities, politicians, corporations, and sports associations have rushed to out-outrage one another.
Dick's, Target, Adobe, Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, American Express, Bank of America, CVS Health, Door Dash, Expedia, Ford, Intel, Kroger, Mastercard, Lyft, Netflix, PayPal, Nike, Salesforce, Starbucks, Tesla, Walt Disney, Wells Fargo, Yelp and many more are virtue signaling their pledge to pay for pregnant employees' out of state travel to gain abortions where they are legal. This is an H.R. and an insurance nightmare happening before your eyes.
NBA and WNBA, perhaps the most Woke of sports associations, issued a joint statement in which the word "abortion" is never mentioned, only "reproductive health care”: “The NBA and WNBA believe that women should be able to make their own decisions concerning their health and future, and we believe that freedom must be protected. We will continue to advocate for gender and health equity, including ensuring our employees have access to reproductive health care, regardless of their location.”
NSWL Player's Association criticized the ruling for in their view it is "a decision that effectively takes away a person's rights to make decisions about their own body," failing to mention that the unborn person gets no vote over a decision about his or her body: "The NWSL Players Association strongly condemns today's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade — a decision that effectively takes away a person's rights to make decisions about their own body, a basic human right at the core of every aspect of life."
If you are an NBA, WNBA, NSWL player who likes this pro-life decision, your association just removed your voice, speaking for you.
The NFL, MLB, NHL have so far not released statements.
Three cheers for the LPGA which released the kind of statement that preserves the right of its members to speak:
“As the best female golfers in the world compete for the third major championship of the year against the backdrop of the US capital, we are concerned by the issues facing the country in the wake of yesterday's Supreme Court decision," the statement read.
"We are a diverse membership organization committed to equality and empowering women, and we encourage and support our employees and members in exercising their individual constitutional right to voice their opinions and vote, as this decision now places important women's rights in the hands of state lawmakers.”
"The LPGA is committed to this conversation and hopes we all strive for outcomes that ensure equality for all women."
“Notice the other three major professional sports leagues issued no statements about this topic. Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League stayed silent. There is no reason for a professional sports league to talk about abortion. These leagues have fans on both sides of divisive political issues.”
Given the politicization tsunami that has inundated professional sports in the past three years, it is surprising indeed, but a bit encouraging, to see the NFL, MLB, NHL, LPGA exercise restraint. Their non-actions do not imply their leadership is pro-life, but at least on this occasion they are wise enough to leave room for players, coaches, supporting staff to exercise their own freedom of speech.
© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved, 2022
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