See the full transcript of the interview here.
“This is probably the most pro-abortion administration we have ever had,” sighs Gavin Oxley, when asked when and why he has become so engaged in the pro-life movement. Oxley, who studies Medical Anthropology at the University of Virginia, has always been sympathetic to the rights of the unborn. It was with the radical policies of President Joe Biden, however, that ultimately encouraged him to become a more active voice in the movement: “The Build Back Better plan is full of pro-abortion policies. For instance, they have pushed for the expansion of chemical abortions. There also is the Women’s Health Protection Act— which we call the Women’s Health Endangerment Act because it is that harmful to mothers.” Nevertheless, Oxley believes pro-lifers should not get involved only in politics. To him, the battle for the rights of preborn children needs to be fought on many fronts, including at the UVA School of Medicine.
In January 2021, Oxley founded Future Medical Professionals for Life at UVA (FMPFL) to push back against Med School’s efforts to teach its students how to perform abortions, or as they call it, “terminate a pregnancy.” A fourth-year Pre-Med student himself, he sees this move as contradicting the profession’s foundational ethics principles: “Basically, abortion is the antithesis to the Hippocratic Oath. We, medical professionals, are called to heal and protect. The first Hippocratic Oath commands to do no harm. I started FMPFL to bring that level of integrity back to the medical field.” Moreover, the organization wants to educate the broader student body about the harsh medical realities of the abortion procedure and offer life-affirming alternatives and support to becoming parents. From his own scientific experience, Oxley gives detailed accounts of how abortion works. His descriptions are horrifying: “Many people think that abortion only targets a clump of cells, but the doctors are pulling an actual baby out; one arm, one foot; they squeeze the skull and then pull it out.”
A scientifically objective look at the abortion process, to Oxley, is the most effective way of changing hearts and minds. He adds that most people who are pro-choice are just unaware of the workings of the actual abortion procedure. With FMPFL, Gavin and his fellow students aim to challenge predominant narratives on the topic and refute widespread biases many students may have against the pro-life movement: “Abortion is a highly profitable business. It is the systematic exploitation of vulnerable people.” Thus, taxpayer-funded organizations like Planned Parenthood actively withhold information and hide alternatives to becoming parents, Oxley claims. Their target group: young women, often college students. “The abortion industry especially preys on young women who struggle financially between their family and school. They say that it is impossible to have a child and a career, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.” Therefore, FMPFL not only aims to educate but also to actively support students with unplanned pregnancies.
The argument often heard from pro-choicers—that the pro-life movement only cares for the baby but disregards the needs and concerns of the mother—is offensively untrue, confirms Oxley: “This argument comes from a false understanding of what the pro-life movement is. They don’t see that we offer care for both the pre-born baby and its parents, often up to when the child is two years old. We have countless offers for food and housing, job support, parenting courses, and much more.” If they only look for it, becoming parents can find support in their communities: “We closely work together with the local pregnancy resource centers in Charlottesville, to present pregnant women with alternatives that are life-affirming and nonviolent.”
The Future Medical Professionals for Life also have another project in the works, Gavin reveals enthusiastically: “We are working on starting a pregnant and parenting students’ scholarship. It is in its early stages, but hopefully we will have it established by spring. We want to establish a scholarship that supports students who are having a hard time managing both university and family expenses.”
Despite their efforts, FMPFL and other pro-life activists often struggle to get their message across on Grounds. “Discussions about abortion certainly are never easy,” says Oxley, speaking from personal experience. Professors mostly try to avoid discussions while students tend to be emotionally invested in the topic, to the point where civil, respectful discourse fails. “I see a lot of people who are pro-life but are afraid to speak about it in school because of fear of being personally attacked for their beliefs,” Oxley observes. Again, he speaks from personal experience: “For example, when I ran for Student Council president last year, I was targeted a lot for being explicitly pro-life. But that is something I will never apologize for.”
Especially in a battle as contested and emotionally charged as this one, Gavin states it is crucial to remain respectful. As an advisor for people who want to actively defend preborn life, he says that “when having any conversation, it is always important to find something both sides have in common. In this case, both sides agree that pregnant women need help.” In conversations with undecided pregnant women or those who have already had an abortion, he adds, it is particularly important not to become aggressive or judgmental: “Step back, listen, and try to understand where that person is coming from. Often, these people never had anybody who listened to their story. People want to be understood, they want to be cared for, they need support.” A little kindness can go a long way, the strong-minded pro-lifer believes: “You should never hide the truth, but also you shouldn’t hurt other people. They need to know that others are here to help them. Don’t be judgmental. Always see them as a person. Once people understand that you care about them, they are more likely to listen to you.”
As crucial as reaching across the aisle, of course, is building solid coalitions with like-minded people. Thus, Future Medical Professionals for Life has partnered with Students for Life of America. Last October, the group hosted the first annual Virginia State College Pro-Life Conference. As founder and president, Oxley looks back fondly on this event: “We invited all of the college pro-life groups in the state and many guest speakers. It was a great event. About six or seven different schools attended. Of course, we are planning to continue this October.”
Persistence and cooperation are key to the pro-life movement’s success, Oxley says— especially now that Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is challenging the status quo of abortion in America, as established by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Though Oxley is optimistic about the Supreme Court case and points to the recent Texas anti-abortion bill as a good template, he knows that the pro-life movement’s fight is far from over: “Basically, it means that we will be fighting 50 battles simultaneously. Politically, we will be focusing on state elections. We will fight for more resources for PRCs and reforms of the foster care and adoption system. But most of all, we have to focus on a cultural change before we can change the federal law.” With FMPFL’s campus campaigns, Oxley is determined to do his part in what may very well be the fight of the century.
Leave a Reply