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Virginia Society for Human Life

December 15, 2023

The Virginia Society for Human Life (VSHL) is a non-profit organization advocating an end to abortion in Virginia and the United States. VSHL is the Virginia affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. It was founded in 1967 and is the oldest anti-abortion organization in the country.[1][2][3] The group has a political action committee, VSHL PAC, to support anti-abortion candidates for Virginia public office. Olivia Gans Turner is the current president of VSHL and the Director of the American Victims of Abortion (AVA).[4]

Virginia Society for Human Life
Formation1967
HeadquartersRichmond, VA
President
Olivia Gans Turner
Websitevshl.org

Activities edit

VSHL works opposes abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and euthanasia in Virginia with the ultimate goal of ending those practices in the state and nationwide. It lobbies for legislation to criminalize abortion and against reproductive rights legislation in the Virginia General Assembly. VSHL president Olivia Gans Turner claimed that during Virginia General Assembly sessions, VSHL has a team of two to three people lobbying the General Assembly.[2]

In 2011, VSHL was involved in the passage of a bill to regulate abortion clinics as "ambulatory surgical centers".[2] The bill, which passed the House by a large margin and passed the Senate after a tiebreaker vote from Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, contributed to the closure of three of the state's 21 abortion clinics between its enactment in 2011 and the Virginia Board of Health's 2015 vote to end the hospital-style regulations for abortion clinics.[5][6]

In August 2012, VSHL started an anti-abortion youth camp called Camp Joshua that is part of the Life & Leadership Camps Initiative developed by the National Right to Life anti-abortion program. VSHL Olivia Gans Turner attended the event and presented workshops on how abortion affects women and the world.[4]

In the Fall of 2012, VSHL supported Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's push to have abortion clinics fall under the same regulations as hospitals.[7]

In January 2013, VSHL supported an anti-abortion rally at the Virginia State Capital that drew several hundred demonstrators. Several dozen pro-choice advocates showed up as well.[8]

VSHL supported the amendment by Governor Robert McDonnell to forbid insurers from offering abortion coverage if they elect to be part of the federal health exchange set up by the Affordable Care Act. The Virginia General Assembly approved the amendment on 3 April 2013 after the Virginia House of Delegates approved the amendment earlier in the day.[9]

In April 2013, VSHL advocated that the Virginia Board of Health require abortion clinics to follow the same construction standards as hospitals. The Virginia Board of Health approved regulations requiring the states abortion clinics to follow existing standards of construction for new hospitals by a vote of 11-2. "These reasonable regulations will begin to rein in reckless abortionists in Virginia" stated Olivia Gans Turner.[10] In 2015, The Virginia Board of Health voted to remove these requirements on abortion clinics by a vote of 9–6.[6]

Mission statement edit

"Virginia Society for Human Life, Inc., is a voluntary and non-denominational organization united in the belief that the human being in his innate dignity and worth should be safeguarded by law at every stage of biological development. Through education and legislative activity, the Society's purpose is to promote measures which will insure protection for all innocent human life."[1]

VSHL PAC edit

VSHL PAC provides support to anti-abortion candidates for public office, especially for U.S. Congress, the Virginia General Assembly, and statewide offices. The VSHL endorsed Fred Thompson for president in 2007.[1] They also endorsed Gov. Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in the 2009 elections, as well as 61 candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates.[11] VSHL PAC started in 1990 and has spent about $100,000 on federal elections since then.[12] In the 2011 state elections, 11 of VSHL's endorsed state Senate candidates and 21 endorsed House of Delegates candidates were elected.[13]

VSHL v. FEC edit

VSHL was involved in a federal court case against the Federal Election Commission that was decided in 2001. VSHL planned to distribute voter guides for the 2000 elections that would detail VSHL's views on life issues and would show various candidates' positions on these issues. VSHL submitted a petition to the FEC asking it to repeal a subsection of election regulations that would declare these activities corporate expenditures, illegal for a 501(c)(3) non-profit. VSHL said the law was too broad. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, agreed, and issued an injunction against the FEC prohibiting them from enforcing the law in question. However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit overturned the lower court's nationwide injunction and amended the injunction to apply only to VSHL.[14][non-primary source needed][15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Sadosky, Jeff (20 December 2007), Fred Thompson Receives the Endorsement of Virginia Society for Human Life (Press release), McLean, Virginia: Standard Newswire, retrieved 9 September 2013
  2. ^ a b c . worldmag.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-04.
  3. ^ "Virginia Society for Human Life - About Us". vshl.org. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b Historic VSHL Pro Life Camp National Right to Life News.org, 20 August 2012. Retrieved: 9 September 2013.
  5. ^ Schulte, Brigid (2011-02-26). "Abortion clinics fear new Virginia law could shut them down". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  6. ^ a b Portnoy, Jenna (2015-09-17). "Virginia Board of Health rolls back strict abortion clinic regulations". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  7. ^ New Regulations Could Treat Virginia Abortion Clinics Like Hospitals National Public Radio.Org, 7 January 2013. Retrieved: 9 September 2013.
  8. ^ Protesters on both sides of abortion debate gather at Capitol Times Dispatch.com, 9 January 2010. Retrieved: 9 September 2013.
  9. ^ Block on Abortion Coverage Passes Times Dispatch.com, 4 April 2013. Retrieved: 9 September 2013.
  10. ^ Stricter Building Rules Times Dispatch.com, 13 April 2013. Retrieved: 9 September 2013.
  11. ^ VSHL 2009 Endorsements April 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Virginia Society for Human Life". opensecrets.org. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Virginia Society for Human Life - Pro-lifers Win Majorities in 2011 Election!". vshl.org. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  14. ^ "FEC Litigation - Court Case Abstracts - V". fec.gov. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  15. ^ Circuit Court decision January 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

  • Official website
  • VSHL PAC website

December 15, 2023
virginia, society, human, life, vshl, profit, organization, advocating, abortion, virginia, united, states, vshl, virginia, affiliate, national, right, life, committee, founded, 1967, oldest, anti, abortion, organization, country, group, political, action, com. The Virginia Society for Human Life VSHL is a non profit organization advocating an end to abortion in Virginia and the United States VSHL is the Virginia affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee It was founded in 1967 and is the oldest anti abortion organization in the country 1 2 3 The group has a political action committee VSHL PAC to support anti abortion candidates for Virginia public office Olivia Gans Turner is the current president of VSHL and the Director of the American Victims of Abortion AVA 4 Virginia Society for Human LifeFormation1967HeadquartersRichmond VAPresidentOlivia Gans TurnerWebsitevshl org Contents 1 Activities 2 Mission statement 2 1 VSHL PAC 3 VSHL v FEC 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksActivities editVSHL works opposes abortion embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia in Virginia with the ultimate goal of ending those practices in the state and nationwide It lobbies for legislation to criminalize abortion and against reproductive rights legislation in the Virginia General Assembly VSHL president Olivia Gans Turner claimed that during Virginia General Assembly sessions VSHL has a team of two to three people lobbying the General Assembly 2 In 2011 VSHL was involved in the passage of a bill to regulate abortion clinics as ambulatory surgical centers 2 The bill which passed the House by a large margin and passed the Senate after a tiebreaker vote from Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling contributed to the closure of three of the state s 21 abortion clinics between its enactment in 2011 and the Virginia Board of Health s 2015 vote to end the hospital style regulations for abortion clinics 5 6 In August 2012 VSHL started an anti abortion youth camp called Camp Joshua that is part of the Life amp Leadership Camps Initiative developed by the National Right to Life anti abortion program VSHL Olivia Gans Turner attended the event and presented workshops on how abortion affects women and the world 4 In the Fall of 2012 VSHL supported Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell s push to have abortion clinics fall under the same regulations as hospitals 7 In January 2013 VSHL supported an anti abortion rally at the Virginia State Capital that drew several hundred demonstrators Several dozen pro choice advocates showed up as well 8 VSHL supported the amendment by Governor Robert McDonnell to forbid insurers from offering abortion coverage if they elect to be part of the federal health exchange set up by the Affordable Care Act The Virginia General Assembly approved the amendment on 3 April 2013 after the Virginia House of Delegates approved the amendment earlier in the day 9 In April 2013 VSHL advocated that the Virginia Board of Health require abortion clinics to follow the same construction standards as hospitals The Virginia Board of Health approved regulations requiring the states abortion clinics to follow existing standards of construction for new hospitals by a vote of 11 2 These reasonable regulations will begin to rein in reckless abortionists in Virginia stated Olivia Gans Turner 10 In 2015 The Virginia Board of Health voted to remove these requirements on abortion clinics by a vote of 9 6 6 Mission statement edit Virginia Society for Human Life Inc is a voluntary and non denominational organization united in the belief that the human being in his innate dignity and worth should be safeguarded by law at every stage of biological development Through education and legislative activity the Society s purpose is to promote measures which will insure protection for all innocent human life 1 VSHL PAC edit VSHL PAC provides support to anti abortion candidates for public office especially for U S Congress the Virginia General Assembly and statewide offices The VSHL endorsed Fred Thompson for president in 2007 1 They also endorsed Gov Bob McDonnell Lt Gov Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in the 2009 elections as well as 61 candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates 11 VSHL PAC started in 1990 and has spent about 100 000 on federal elections since then 12 In the 2011 state elections 11 of VSHL s endorsed state Senate candidates and 21 endorsed House of Delegates candidates were elected 13 VSHL v FEC editVSHL was involved in a federal court case against the Federal Election Commission that was decided in 2001 VSHL planned to distribute voter guides for the 2000 elections that would detail VSHL s views on life issues and would show various candidates positions on these issues VSHL submitted a petition to the FEC asking it to repeal a subsection of election regulations that would declare these activities corporate expenditures illegal for a 501 c 3 non profit VSHL said the law was too broad The U S District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Richmond Division agreed and issued an injunction against the FEC prohibiting them from enforcing the law in question However the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit overturned the lower court s nationwide injunction and amended the injunction to apply only to VSHL 14 non primary source needed 15 See also editNational Right to Life CommitteeReferences edit a b c Sadosky Jeff 20 December 2007 Fred Thompson Receives the Endorsement of Virginia Society for Human Life Press release McLean Virginia Standard Newswire retrieved 9 September 2013 a b c Moving Forward worldmag com Archived from the original on 2011 07 04 Virginia Society for Human Life About Us vshl org Retrieved 19 November 2015 a b Historic VSHL Pro Life Camp National Right to Life News org 20 August 2012 Retrieved 9 September 2013 Schulte Brigid 2011 02 26 Abortion clinics fear new Virginia law could shut them down The Washington Post Retrieved 2016 04 30 a b Portnoy Jenna 2015 09 17 Virginia Board of Health rolls back strict abortion clinic regulations Washington Post Retrieved 2016 04 30 New Regulations Could Treat Virginia Abortion Clinics Like Hospitals National Public Radio Org 7 January 2013 Retrieved 9 September 2013 Protesters on both sides of abortion debate gather at Capitol Times Dispatch com 9 January 2010 Retrieved 9 September 2013 Block on Abortion Coverage Passes Times Dispatch com 4 April 2013 Retrieved 9 September 2013 Stricter Building Rules Times Dispatch com 13 April 2013 Retrieved 9 September 2013 VSHL 2009 Endorsements Archived April 4 2010 at the Wayback Machine Virginia Society for Human Life opensecrets org Retrieved 19 November 2015 Virginia Society for Human Life Pro lifers Win Majorities in 2011 Election vshl org Retrieved 19 November 2015 FEC Litigation Court Case Abstracts V fec gov Retrieved 19 November 2015 Circuit Court decision Archived January 5 2009 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editOfficial website VSHL PAC website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Virginia Society for Human Life amp oldid 1182628541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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