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By Vivian Greentree

The Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a controversial abortion ban that has no health exception for the mother has apparently emboldened anti-choice activists to press on and attempt to strike while the iron is hot. According to Women’s Enews, in the two weeks since the historical SCOTUS decision to limit women’s rights, state lawmakers have pushed through anti-choice legislation in no less than 6 states with more poised to jump into the fray.

My family recently moved back to the area from Texas, where Gov. Rick Perry’s culture of pseudo-morality has led the state to the highest teen birth rate in the country and an incredibly high rate of unintended pregnancies and teenage STDs. In Texas it is abstinence-only sex education combined with large state funding for faith-based “crisis pregnancy centers.” It's interesting that abstinence-only programs have been shown to actually increase the risk of contracting AIDS and other STDs and that real medical facilities like Planned Parenthood clinics languish from increasing partisan budgetary cuts. Doesn't that seem like an illogical way to decrease soaring teen pregnancy rates – to cut funding for the very programs aimed at educating teens, then denying them treatment unless they believe in the fundamentalist rhetoric of what essentially equates to church volunteers!

I thought no one else could be that illogical. After all, it WAS Texas. But then I saw some of the bills Virginia’s own legislators had introduced in the last session. Now, I have no doubt that they will hope to capitalize on this new climate of contempt for women and continue to chip away women’s rights of choice and reproductive health care. One bill that was introduced by Delegate Kathy Byron (R-22) sought to include ultrasound viewing as part of informed consent. Implying that we don’t know what we are doing until we actually view a photo is insulting. It usurps our privacy, our bodies, and our own moral decision-making. Yet another bill sponsored by Delegate Robert Marshall (R-13) tried to, “extend the constitutionally guaranteed right to enjoyment of life to pre-born human beings from the moment of fertilization.” That doesn’t even satisfy the medical definition of pregnancy and isn’t supported by any professional medical group. I don’t think he even understands that the language being used will codify our laws to preclude women from access to not only abortion, but also birth control. At least I hope he doesn’t. Oh, and also, if that piece of legislation passes what happens to someone who has the misfortune to miscarry? Do they get charged with manslaughter or negligent homicide?

I’m not being flippant, but I can’t explain how galling it is when those who have no first-hand knowledge of the topic have the temerity to pass judgment and stand ready to assert control in a realm in which they have no place! None of these people are medical professionals with background in reproductive health care. They are just political panderers trying to score some points with Pat Robertson and his ilk. They certainly don’t have the best interests of women and children at heart.

Because if they did have the welfare and interest of women and children as their motivators the landscape would be a lot different. These leaders would be more interested in funding comprehensive sex-education programs instead of religiously opposing anything other than abstinence-based curriculum (pun intended). More bills would be introduced that would work to advance, not cut, funding for family planning centers like Planned Parenthood. Access to contraception would be at the forefront of the agenda. Things like healthcare and daycare would be among the hottest topics at our capitol and not just political buzzwords like “partial-birth abortion” and “abortion doctor.” My point is that some of our esteemed leaders are much more effective at bloviating about our societal problems (i.e. abortion) and their easy fixes (pass laws that restrict choice) rather than actually taking a hard look at their real causes (lack of access to healthcare and education).

I have volunteered at Planned Parenthood for many years. We believe that honest, factual education will encourage healthy and responsible choices about sexuality. Even as anti-choice advocates attempt to marginalize us and cut our budgets, our mission has always been to provide comprehensive reproductive and health-care services in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of women.