I was also once an anti-choicer, raised fundamental Baptist through and through. I vehemently thought that all women who fornicated outside of marriage deserved to be saddled with a child, I thought that women who were “raped” must have done something to deserve it, and I thought that women with lethal pregnancies were fulfilling God’s plan for them to die. And I was vocal about it.

And you know what? I didn’t deserve any respect for my opinions. I’m glad that the pro-choice people I encountered expressed their disgust. I’m glad that people called me out on my shit, and I’m glad I was treated just as poorly as I suggested women be treated. 

Anti-choicers do “know better.” They know that women are people and should be treated with respect and human dignity. They know that common decency requires that they not harass women for their choices or demand a return to draconian laws that result in women’s deaths. And they know that they can’t win their argument without the lies and religious dogma they spread. Anti-choicers (who are actually anti-choice and not pro-life) do not deserve our respect until they can respect us as human beings. They deserve common courtesy and decency like any other person, but they do not deserve respect.

(To the anon that requested that this post be made rebloggable, enjoy!)