A woman with Down’s syndrome, who is behind an ongoing legal battle to end discriminatory abortion against babies with Down’s syndrome, has just set a Guinness World Record.
The law in the UK allows abortion up to birth in cases of disability, including Down’s syndrome, but up to 24 weeks in most other cases. Heidi Crowter has taken her case against this discriminatory abortion legislation to both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and is now taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights.
In her time between courts though, Heidi is busy setting a world record and now holds the title for most celebrity birthdays identified in three minutes. Heidi released a short video on Facebook of her setting the world record.
In the video, the official from the Guinness World Records announces the event as the “first official attempt for the Guinness World Records title for the most celebrities identified by their birthdays in the three minutes”.
He then starts the clock and Heidi is able to give the correct birthday of every celebrity from Princess Charlotte and Margaret Thatcher, to Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Nelson Mandela, Joe Biden and everyone in between.
Along with the video Heidi announced “I am a Guinness world record holder!!!! I did the challenge last week. I set the record for the most celebrity birthdays in 3 minutes. I got 70!!!”
“In 2023, we live in a society where disabled people are valued equally after birth but not in the womb.”
Regarding her ongoing legal battle, the 27-year-old woman from Coventry said she is pursuing the case “because it is downright discrimination that people with disabilities are treated differently”.
She said “In 2023, we live in a society where disabled people are valued equally after birth but not in the womb”.
“Our law singles out babies with disabilities. It says that babies can’t be aborted after 24 weeks if they are not found to have a disability, but if a baby is found to have Down’s syndrome, they can be aborted up until birth. This is the current law in the UK and I think it’s not fair”.
“This law sends a message to people like me with Down’s syndrome that we are less valuable than others. This is not true and it is not right”.
“The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recently said that the United Kingdom should change its abortion law to make sure that people like me aren’t singled out because of our disabilities but the Government hasn’t changed the law”.
“I have a great life. I want every baby with Down’s syndrome to have the same chance to live and enjoy their life.”
Right To Life UK spokesperson Catherine Robinson said “Heidi’s work against this unjust law and her personal achievements like this new world record are a continued inspiration. The disability discrimination against babies with Down’s syndrome has to end.”
