Something monumental happened in the state of Virginia yesterday. Presented with an anti-abortion bill that would require women to have an ultrasound before getting an abortion, Senator Janet Howell attached an amendment mandating a cardiac stress test and a rectal exam for men seeking to obtain a prescription for erectile dysfunction medicine. It was a brilliant attempt to counterbalance the invasive and unnecessary use of ultrasounds as a way to deter women from seeking abortions. Actually, some men should have cardiac testing before going on a drug that alters blood flow and activity levels. The rectal exam? Women are tired of men sticking it to us–why not turn the other cheek.
The bill failed in a vote of 21 to 19, but the point was made. One of 7 women in the Virginia Senate, Howell was joined by 5 of her fellow female Senators in voting for the bill. Republican Senator, Jill Vogel who introduced the mandatory ultrasound bill, voted against the amendment. In an interview by The Huffington Post, Howell stated that she knew the bill wouldn’t pass. “This is more of a message type of an amendment, so I was pleased to get 19 votes,” she said.
As a fellow Virginian, I applaud her moxie. Virginia is a conservative state and the anti-abortion legislation is slowly creeping in. Women are seeing an erosion of their rights across this country and I find it scary. If we had more women representing the people in our state and in our nation, I think we might have a more people-focused agenda with less emphasis on building arsenals and garnering power in the hands of a few. But, that’s just my opinion.
I don’t live in Senator Howell’s district, but I plan to write her, nonetheless, to express my admiration and support.
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I hope this message is carried to other places and impacts recent trends. Thanks for sharing this.
I hope so too.
Very savvy counterattack!
She’s my new hero.