The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus affirms that every person possesses the inherent right to bodily autonomy, personal dignity, and self-determination. We believe that individuals should have the freedom to make decisions concerning their own bodies, health, and personal lives, free from unjustified coercion, discrimination, or interference.
We recognize bodily autonomy as a fundamental expression of individual liberty and human dignity. Every person deserves to be treated as the primary decision-maker regarding their own body, subject to the rights of others and legitimate, narrowly tailored protections against harm. No individual should be regarded as the property of the state, an institution, an organization, or another person.
The PPagan Socialist Democratic Caucus supports the principle that people should be able to make informed, voluntary decisions about their physical well-being, medical care, reproductive lives, and personal boundaries. We believe that personal decisions involving one's body should be approached with respect for individual circumstances, privacy, conscience, and the freedom to make choices without intimidation or undue pressure.
Our commitment to bodily autonomy encompasses the following principles:
We support the right of individuals to make informed decisions regarding reproduction, pregnancy, contraception, family planning, and reproductive health care. We believe these deeply personal matters deserve thoughtful consideration, respect for individual circumstances, and access to appropriate medical information and care. We support policies that protect reproductive freedom, patient privacy, and the ability to make personal medical decisions without unnecessary governmental interference.
We affirm the importance of informed consent, respect for patient decisions, and the right of individuals with decision-making capacity to accept or refuse medical treatment in accordance with applicable law. Medical care should be grounded in accurate information, professional standards, respect for patient dignity, and freedom from coercion. Exceptions involving emergencies or individuals who cannot legally make particular decisions should be handled through appropriate safeguards that prioritize their rights and well-being.
We oppose sexual violence, physical abuse, forced medical procedures, and other violations of bodily integrity. Every person has the right to establish personal boundaries and to be free from unwanted physical contact and exploitation. Consent must be freely given, informed, and respected, and no person should be pressured or threatened into surrendering control over their body.
We respect the dignity of individuals making personal decisions about their bodies and physical presentation, including decisions related to gender expression and gender-affirming care. We support access to appropriate, evidence-based health care and oppose discrimination or harassment directed at individuals because of their bodies, identities, or personal medical decisions.
We recognize that bodily autonomy must be respected alongside the rights of people with disabilities and those who require assistance with daily living or medical decisions. Support and accommodations should empower individuals to exercise as much agency as possible. Disability, dependence on caregivers, or the need for assistance must never be treated as a reason to disregard a person's dignity, preferences, or rights.
We affirm the right of individuals to privacy concerning their bodies, medical histories, reproductive choices, and personal circumstances. We oppose unnecessary intrusion into private matters and believe that personal information should be handled with appropriate confidentiality and respect for applicable law. Individuals should be able to make personal decisions consistent with their conscience without being subjected to intimidation or discrimination.
We support public policies that protect bodily integrity, informed consent, personal liberty, and equal treatment. We recognize that individual rights exist within a society where the rights and safety of others also matter. Any restriction on bodily autonomy should be carefully justified, proportionate, consistent with constitutional and legal protections, and attentive to the dignity and rights of the people affected.
As a caucus rooted in the Pagan community, we recognize the significance that bodily autonomy, personal boundaries, and individual spiritual conscience hold for many people across diverse religious and philosophical traditions. We do not require uniformity of belief as a condition of respectful civic participation. Instead, we affirm that a democratic society must make room for individual freedom while protecting every person's equal rights.
Our commitment to bodily autonomy extends to our own organization. The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus will strive to foster an environment in which members are treated with dignity, their personal boundaries are respected, and no one is subjected to discrimination or coercion because of their body, medical circumstances, or personal decisions.
We affirm that every person deserves dignity, agency, and a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their own body. Bodily autonomy is not a declaration that individuals exist without responsibility to others; it is a recognition that personal liberty and human dignity require meaningful respect for each person's physical integrity and self-determination.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus stands for a society in which people are empowered to make informed personal decisions, protected from abuse and coercion, and treated as equal human beings under the law. We believe that freedom begins with respect for the person, and that respect must include the body, the mind, and the individual's right to live with dignity.
Faith. Freedom. Democracy.
Adopted as the official position of the Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus on bodily autonomy, personal liberty, and self-determination.