What does the Alabama IVF ruling mean? The ruling which fell on February 16th, 2024, by the Alabama Supreme Court issued a unique decision which overruled a lower court’s dismissal and said that stored embryos are afforded the same legal protection as children under the states Wrongful Death of a Minor Act of 1872. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed the bill into law after weeks of backlash, by not only Alabama citizens, but by Americans all around the county.

The bill was passed. What is IVF? Why was this bill passed? What does this mean for Alabama? What does it mean for the rest of the country? IVF stands for in vitro fertilization, which is a medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm in a test tube or elsewhere outside of the body. It is a treatment for infertility, blocked fallopian tubes, or can be used to prevent passing on genetic problems to a child. The process of passing this bill started in 2020 when an unauthorized person destroyed frozen embryos at the Mobile Infirmary Health and the Center for Reproductive Medicine, and the parents sued. The Medical Centers said in a joint statement that “At this time, we believe the law falls short of addressing the fertilized eggs currently stored across the state and leaves challenges for physicians and fertility clinics trying to help deserving families have children of their own.” This means for Alabama that it will become much harder to receive IVF treatment, as it was criminalized. However, a new bill that was released in March of 2024 states that “(The new law) provides civil and criminal immunity for death or damage to an embryo to any individual or entity when providing or receiving services related to in vitro fertilization” says the Alabama House.

Now what does this mean for the rest of the country? It means that some politicians will not stop at any lengths to protect a fetus, or even an embryo. A fetus is protected by the government, until it is born and is a real human child. The IVF ruling connects to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, with the government taking control over women’s bodies. The fact that a ruling like this can happen in Alabama is just a taste as to what Project 2025 will hold. Project 2025 is a result of “The actions of liberal politicians in Washington have created a desperate need and unique opportunity for conservatives to start undoing the damage the Left has wrought and build a better country for all Americans in 2025.” Says the official Project 2025 website. When speaking with Rex Putnam senior Annabella Anderson, she said “I am genuinely scared for the future of America. I mean I am only 18 years old and only in my four years of high school so many bills and legislations have been passed that negatively impact women and minorities.” She went on to talk about how she is scared to go to college with Project 2025 aiming to break up the department of education. “I really do not see a future for this country in which I can be successful,” which is why she is aiming to get an international law degree. “My mom wants to move to another country, my best friend is moving to another country, and I see so many people who have the privilege to leave. I don’t want to leave, but I don’t see many other options that don’t result in me being discriminated against, simply because I am a woman. It’s a scary time to be a woman in America.”

Adding on to Anderson’s point, it may become increasingly dangerous to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community and be a person of color. There has been an increase in hate crimes and an uptick in radicals around the country. The easiest and most important thing American citizens can do is vote. Go out and vote for the primaries and vote for the presidential election.