In Tennessee, a controversial computer-generated video created by an anti-abortion group called Live Action could soon be required viewing in schools due to a recently passed law. The three-minute video, titled “Meet Baby Olivia,” claims to show the development of a fetus in the womb with scientific accuracy, aiming to showcase the humanity of the preborn at each stage of development. Lawmakers in the Republican-led Tennessee Senate passed the “Baby Olivia Act,” which now awaits Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s signature. The act mandates that all family life curricula include the video or similar content showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development.
Live Action, the organization behind the video, aims to shift public opinion on abortion. Founded in 2008 by Lila Rose, the group conducts investigative reporting and produces educational media. The video was created in collaboration with a panel of medical doctors, although critics have raised concerns about its accuracy and motive. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has described the video as anti-abortion propaganda designed to manipulate emotions. Despite this criticism, Tennessee joins North Dakota, which passed a similar bill last year, in requiring such videos in the curriculum. Other states, including Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri, have also considered similar measures, while West Virginia’s attempt to pass such a law failed.
Tennessee Senator Heidi Campbell, a Democrat from Nashville, has criticized the video as “offensively childish” and insulting to both women and the medical profession. She is among those who question the accuracy and intentions of the video, pointing out that it uses a different timeline than what doctors typically use for pregnancy. The video starts from the date of fertilization rather than the date of the last menstrual period, leading to developmental milestones being shown approximately two weeks earlier than generally understood. Tennessee has recently tightened abortion restrictions, passing a ban on most abortions in 2022 alongside several other states following the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade.
Live Action hopes that the “Baby Olivia Act” in Tennessee will set a precedent for other states to prioritize comprehensive education on human development. The organization has consulted with medical professionals in creating the video, although critics have raised concerns about the affiliations of these professionals with anti-abortion or right-leaning groups. Ultimately, the debate surrounding the video and the new law in Tennessee reflects the ongoing controversy and polarization surrounding the issue of abortion in the United States. As the state continues to implement new measures around this topic, the conversation about reproductive rights, education, and public health is likely to persist at both the state and national levels.
