When people think of social justice in Richmond, it’s hard not to think of Delegate Jennifer McClellan.
With their new power in Richmond, anti-choice politicians thought 2012 was their premier opportunity to railroad these policies into law with little resistance. These lawmakers grossly underestimated the outrage their insidious attacks on women’s health would provoke in Virginia and across the nation. With this spring awakening will come retribution at the polls this fall and in fall 2013.
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A new poll out today from Quinnipiac University reveals that Virginia voters are not happy with the recently signed forced ultrasound law, and their confidence in and approval of both Governor Bob McDonnell and the state legislature has declined.
It’s a strange sensation to start something as a joke, expecting that only your friends on Facebook will see it, and then all of a sudden to see it all over the internet. That’s what happened with my decision to report on my menstrual cycle to all of the Virginia legislators (not just the Republicans, contrary to popular news sources) who voted “yes” on HB462, the “mandatory ultrasound” bill.
Governor Bob McDonnell is trying to play down the outrage over an intrusive law mandating unnecessary medical procedures by calling it a “kerfluffle,” suggesting he is trying to “empower women,” and spreading other misinformation about the bill. A resident of Virginia responds.
Pictures worth 10,000 words… Virginia sends in riot police to arrest peaceful protestors supporting women’s rights. Apparently, they can occupy your uterus, but you can’t occupy your state capitol.
Early this morning, I learned that Governor McDonnell had ordered a SWAT Team to cover a Candlelight Vigil I attended the night before at the Governor’s Mansion. Riot police were hiding in the bushes, while my two small children and I sang, “This Little Light of Mine.” And that was only the beginning of my lesson.
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Delegate Englin of Virginia’s 45th district updates RH Reality Check regarding the “Personhood” and forced ultrasound bills.
After a year of signing laws and regulations decried by medical professionals as unnecessary and costly intrusions into the doctor-patient relationship, Bob McDonnell has suddenly found religion on medical evidence. At least a little bit. He now says he will not sign mandatory trasn-vaginal ultrasounds into law. But he’ll restrict women’s rights other ways.
The claim that mandatory ultrasounds are about information has no basis in research or common sense. Luckily, conservatives are beginning to abandon that argument and admit that it’s all about punishing women for having sex.
