Heidi Crowter has accomplished more than anyone ever expected of her.
As an activist with Down syndrome, she’s spoken up for her own life and the lives of others.
And here’s how her new lawsuit could end up saving thousands of unborn babies!
Crowter realizes that she’s blessed to be alive—especially in her home country of England where current abortion laws target vulnerable people like her.
Britain’s abortion laws often seem more restrictive than the laws in the United States, since there’s a ban on abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
But there’s one crucial exception to this law that threatens the lives of thousands of babies each year.
“Babies can be aborted right up to birth if they are considered to be ‘seriously handicapped,’” explained Crowter.
That’s right: abortion laws in the UK stipulates that babies can be murdered right up to the moment of birth if they have a disability.
Babies with cleft lips, club feet, Down syndrome, or other “serious handicaps” are callously deemed unworthy of life in society, and British doctors often encourage parents to abort these children.
According to Right to Life UK, over 90 percent of unborn babies diagnosed with Down syndrome (and other disabilities) in England are aborted.
This means that over 3,000 children are aborted each year simply because their parents don’t want to deal with their disabilities.
To Crowter—and any decent person—this is unacceptable.
“They include me in that definition of being seriously handicapped—just because I have an extra chromosome!” said Crowter. “Can you believe that?”
“What it says to me is that my life just isn’t as valuable as others, and I don’t think that’s right. I think it’s downright discrimination.”
So far, Crowter has spent her life advocating for the rights of those with Down syndrome and other disabilities and hasn’t let anyone or anything stand in her way.
To stand up to the pro-abortion law, Crowter has partnered with another activist, Cheryl Bilsborrow, who has a child with Down syndrome and knows the pain of this discrimination against children with disabilities.
Together, Crowter and Bilsborrow have filed a lawsuit against the government and crowdfunded over $50,000 to fund their efforts!
Their catchphrase is “Don’t screen us out,” referring to the screening process that allows doctors to identify disabilities in the womb.
Crowter has worked hard throughout her life to gain pro-life support on this issue and now her activism is paying off – she and Bilsborrow have gained support from all over England and the UK.
Most recently, Crowter gathered more than 18,000 signatures on a petition which will urge Parliament to reconsider this abortion law and protect the lives of children with disabilities.
She delivered the signatures to 10 Downing Street, the headquarters of the UK government, with a bold statement about how current abortion laws have impacted her life.
“I’m asking them [Members of Parliament (MPs)] to…allow equality in the womb for every baby,” Crowter said.
“I want this to happen because I’m someone who has Down’s Syndrome and I feel that the law makes me upset,” she continued.
“It makes me feel like I’m better off dead.”
Crowter undoubtedly speaks for many people with disabilities who may be living productive lives in society, yet are discriminated against and told they shouldn’t have been born.
“I think it sends a really negative message,” Crowter added. “And in the words of a classic song, you are amazing just the way you are.”
Crowter’s activism has already impacted several MPs who plan to stand up for life.
After reading Crowter’s petition, MP Carla Lockhart admitted, “The words that ring out in my mind is that it makes Heidi feel like she shouldn’t exist, and that’s just wrong.”
“The most basic human right is the right to life and everyone has that right to life.”
“If you have a cleft palate, a club foot or Down’s syndrome, you can be aborted,” Lockhart reflected. “That’s just wrong, so we want to stop that.”
Please pray for the success of Heidi Crowter’s lawsuit and continued activism!
She’s taking a bold stand for life and is a testament to God’s power. Every Christian should stand behind her and support her voice for the vulnerable!
