Why an Increasing Number of Young Men Are Advocating for the Pro-Life Movement

WASHINGTON—Carlos Lamoutte and GianLuca Pasquotto listened with keen interest as Vice President JD Vance addressed a gathering of tens of thousands congregated at the National Mall on January 24 for the 52nd National March for Life.

The seniors from Jesuit High School, an all-boys Catholic institution in Tampa, Florida, made the trip to the capital accompanied by over 45 fellow members from their pro-life club, which has been sending students to the March for Life for more than ten years.

They represented just a small portion of the many young men from various educational institutions across the nation who had come together to vocalize their beliefs.

These young men walked alongside little boys grasping the hands of their fathers and mothers, as well as older men displaying signs that declared sentiments like, “Abortion is Failed Manhood” and “Men Regret Lost Fatherhood.”

Their attendance at the rally, together with influential male figures like Vance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), highlighted their resolve to stand by their convictions. Former President Donald Trump also contributed a video message stating, “We will again stand proudly for families and for life.”

Ryder Wittman, a 20-year-old senior at Colorado Christian University, was present at the march. He reflected, “I believe many guys aren’t even aware that they can engage in this,” he noted.

Wittman shared that his peer group often expresses sentiments such as, “Oh, I didn’t realize I could form an opinion on this. I thought that was just a female issue.”

While assisting at a pregnancy center in Denver, he frequently encounters young men who feel powerless regarding unplanned pregnancies, even when their partners urge them to share their thoughts.

“A lot of young men come in; they’re around my age—19, 20, 21—and they’re under the impression that they’re not entitled to an opinion on this matter,” he explained to The Epoch Times.

“Their girlfriends often look to them, saying, ‘Hey, guide me on this. Help me decide what we should do.’ My primary concern is how we can challenge that mindset. How can we shift the belief that men have no voice in this issue?”

Kristen Cooper, 21, from Students for Life, echoed this sentiment in her conversation with The Epoch Times, emphasizing the importance of involvement from both men and women.

“The pro-life initiative is fundamentally about families, requiring the support of both genders, and we are thrilled to witness men standing up for our mission,” she stated.

Conversely, Wittman has seen young men in his volunteer work who want to be heard and are keen to prevent their partners from making decisions about terminating pregnancies.

Time and again, he notices fathers expressing, “I don’t particularly want to go in this direction, but I feel that I can’t voice my thoughts on it.”

“It’s utterly heartbreaking and tragic to witness,” he admitted.

Multiple pro-life organizations have acknowledged the tendency to silence men’s views regarding the issue, even within the pro-life landscape.

“At times, the pro-life movement risks being perceived as merely a women’s movement,” Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, remarked to The Epoch Times. “There are occasions when events are designed solely for women’s voices. That’s a major miscalculation.”

“It is, of course, imperative to elevate women’s voices, particularly as seen in our ‘Silent No More’ campaign, which highlights the experiences of those who have had abortions. Yet, even in that initiative, men play a role.”

Men are called to reclaim their role as protectors, they insisted, highlighting the increasing number of young men actively involved in the pro-life movement.

“It’s truly inspiring to witness this,” Morana stated. “If we had more advocates like this back when Norma McCorvey was involved, and in the early days of Roe v. Wade, our situation would likely be quite different.”

“It’s about strong men and young boys who will uplift and honor the women in their lives, celebrating motherhood in the process.”

The Post-Roe Generation

The young men who spoke with The Epoch Times expressed a strong desire for a lasting shift in the cultural landscape of the nation.

“I feel that our generation bears a significant responsibility to redeem our culture of death and convert it into a culture of life,” Lamoutte articulated in an email prior to the march. “With Roe v. Wade now overturned, our focus should shift to affecting our culture.”

“As St. John Paul II consistently emphasized, culture supersedes politics and economics when it comes to achieving genuine, enduring change in society,” he continued. “This is our call as the post-Roe generation.”

Both of Lamoutte’s parents are obstetrician-gynecologists. Growing up with two medical professionals for parents, and influenced by his father’s volunteer work with an abortion reversal hotline, shaped his understanding as he learned of crisis pregnancies and women’s desires to reverse initial decisions regarding abortion.

“Being closely involved with their experiences provided me with a unique perspective, fostering my passion for the pro-life cause and motivating me to advocate for these women and their children,” he stated.

Pasquotto was similarly influenced through testimonials, which drew him fully into the pro-life cause.

“I initially joined Tampa Jesuit’s pro-life club because my brother had participated for four years and had gone to three March for Life events,” he remarked to The Epoch Times via email.

His commitment solidified during his first March for Life when he listened to the “Silent No More” testimonials from women who openly shared their feelings of remorse and ongoing pain following their abortions.

“I came to understand that this issue transcends mere politics or social issues,” he reflected. “Abortion embodies a moral predicament that strikes at the heart of future American generations. I desire for my children to inherit a world that promotes life rather than extinguishes it.”

Survivors

Beyond affecting future generations, abortion has impacted every generation since Roe v. Wade, Pavone explained.

These generations share a bond as survivors, he added. Although their parents may not have contemplated aborting them, they were brought into a society that failed to protect them.

This consciousness of being a survivor, he affirmed, should encourage individuals to speak out.

“In advocating for the unborn, you are simultaneously advocating for yourselves,” he told The Epoch Times. “If you were not safeguarded in the womb, you are voicing concerns for yourselves.”

Speaker Johnson also highlighted this pivotal moment, recounting to the crowd how he was born from an unplanned pregnancy, just a year prior to Roe v. Wade.

“I owe my existence to my mom and dad for disregarding advice from others suggesting they resolve the ‘problem’ instead of embracing life,” he expressed.

“It’s a straightforward reality that had my parents made a different choice, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Johnson shared that he often contemplates “who else might have been lost to abortion,” pondering their potential impact on the world had they lived.

“It is a matter of fundamental humanity to guarantee that a child who survives an attempted abortion receives appropriate care as they lie gasping for breath,” Johnson stated.

He commended all the activists who have relentlessly fought for the pro-life cause over the more than 50 years since Roe v. Wade was established.

“Together, we are restoring a culture of life,” Johnson declared.

The students from Tampa Jesuit High School also received enthusiastic support from their state senator, Jay Collins.

“Your bravery and commitment to defending the unborn showcase the very essence of our community—faith, service, and unwavering support for what is right,” he noted when The Epoch Times inquired about their involvement.

“As you raise your voices, remember that your efforts genuinely matter, and you are part of a movement capable of transforming hearts and saving lives. Remain bold, focused, and continue the good fight.”

Culture of Life

Even after the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled Roe v. Wade in June 2022 and secured various legislative wins, those who engaged with The Epoch Times before and during the March affirmed that the struggle continues.

“The work is far from finished,” Pasquotto remarked.

“While the overturning of Roe v. Wade is a monumental achievement, it does not completely eliminate abortion,” he clarified.

“The much more challenging task at hand is to ensure that abortion is entirely banned at any stage of pregnancy across all states. In fact, it is increasingly essential for men to rise to the occasion, as millions of people still need awareness, our prayers, and action.”

Many of his classmates participate in weekly prayers in front of an abortion clinic and continue their annual journey to the capital.

They pray “for every woman who is frightened, confused, and feeling alone,” and for the unborn children lacking advocates.

They also offer prayers for men facing crisis pregnancies who may feel at a loss in supporting the women in their lives during such times.

Lamoutte added that raising awareness of the ongoing pro-life movement is crucial in impacting governmental perspectives.

“It conveys to the nation that our movement is not dissipating and will persistently advocate for the sanctity of life and the ultimate cessation of abortion,” he asserted regarding the March for Life.

Setbacks and Challenges

The pro-life movement has encountered setbacks—both as a collective and on an individual basis.

In the post-Roe era, various states have enacted laws protecting abortion access. Despite being surrounded by supportive communities and families, these students have faced pushback in person and online for their convictions, sometimes resulting in lost friendships.

Emerging within the movement are young advocates striving to address persistent underlying issues that they believe continue to impede progress.

Wittman suggested that better communication among the diverse sectors of the pro-life movement is essential.

While organizations like Students for Life emphasize defunding Planned Parenthood, other groups focus on different priorities.

While some pro-life advocates have celebrated DeSantis for signing Florida’s heartbeat law, which prohibits abortions beyond six weeks, others in the pro-life abolitionist camp reject any legislation allowing for abortion as having any merit.

“When critical moments arise, our lack of consensus is detrimental,” Wittman noted.

Regardless of the obstacles, this younger generation remains optimistic about the future, viewing the March for Life as an annual reaffirmation of that hope.

“I firmly believe there exists a younger generation that stands up for the sanctity of life and is actively working to transform our culture into one that values life,” Lamoutte expressed.

“Observing the numerous young individuals participating in the March and related events year after year continually inspires me.”