The “Meet Baby Olivia” video is produced by Live Action, a prominent organization that advocates against abortion. The video provides a visual depiction of fertilization and subsequent fetal growth. Rep. Miller, who also serves as the executive director for the Ashland Pregnancy Care Center, insists the legislation is focused on science, not abortion.
“This legislation does not deal with abortion at all,” Miller stated. “This deals with the science of human development. … We’re hoping that we can change the culture to be celebrating life instead of destroying life.”
Miller described the required video as a resource designed to be “scientifically accurate, engaging and appropriate for classroom settings, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexity of human life.” The video, she explained, features detailed animations of ultrasound imagery showcasing early human development, including the formation of vital organs like the brain, heart, and limbs. The bill would mandate its inclusion in any public school course covering human growth, development, or sexuality.
The proposal has drawn swift criticism from reproductive rights organizations. Planned Parenthood has labeled the “Baby Olivia” video as “inaccurate, misleading, and manipulative.”
Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of Abortion Forward, stressed the importance of comprehensive sex education. “Students should learn the science around human reproduction, but those lessons should also include medically accurate and comprehensive information that is proven to encourage teens to delay the start of sexual activity until later in life and give them the tools to prevent unintended pregnancy,” Copeland said in a statement. “This propaganda video full of misinformation is the opposite of that.”
The legislative push comes on the heels of Ohio voters passing a 2023 ballot measure that enshrined protections for abortion access and reproductive rights in the state’s constitution. Abortion is currently legal in Ohio up to 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Despite the political climate, proponents are resolute. Kate Makra, President of the Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, anticipated the opposition’s response. “I fully expect that those who will be in opposition to this bill will try to delegitimize it, and they will refer to it as propaganda, among other things,” Makra said, adding, “The dehumanization of the unborn child must fail.”
Rep. Miller argued for the yearly showing of the video, noting that a student’s questions and understanding evolve as they age. “What is the harm? Three minutes is not very long in health class,” she posed. She also highlighted that the state’s current, non-comprehensive health education standards already stress abstinence-only sex education.
To ensure compliance, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce would be tasked with conducting annual audits of school districts. The bill also includes a provision for advance parental notification, giving families the option to opt their student out of watching the video.
Ohio is not alone in considering such measures; similar bills have been introduced in more than 20 other states, with Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, Tennessee, Iowa, and Indiana having already enacted analogous legislation.
What do you think the potential impact of this bill would be on Ohio’s educational system?