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The Republicans’ march towards ladies’s bodily autonomy continues regardless of the backlash, and it doesn’t seem like they are going to be slowing down any time quickly. Quite the opposite, this can be a legislative precedence for 2023 for Republicans.
In Virginia, the Republicans have made it fairly clear that they’ll proceed to pursue their agenda of eliminating reproductive rights for girls. Throughout the State of the Commonwealth handle within the Virginia Home of Delegates, Gov. Glenn Youngkin reasserted his anti-abortion rights agenda.
The speech was made with a way of urgency, as Gov. Youngkin is adamant about imposing a ban on abortions 15 weeks after being pregnant. The governor has made his intentions clear, that he would “gleefully” signal “any invoice [to protect life] that comes” to him. These feedback got here shortly after the US Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v Wade. The governor personally believes that life begins at conception.
The governor is backed by like-minded legislators in the home, which makes his claims extra than simply empty threats. Two Republicans have already submitted comparable payments in each homes, making it a felony for docs to carry out an abortion on ladies who’re pregnant for 15 weeks or extra. The possibilities of this invoice’s success are restricted as a result of the Democrats management the Senate, reported Dogwood, a Courier Newsroom publication.
The invoice within the Home of Delegates has been launched by Republican Del. Marie March. The invoice, Home Invoice 1395, would set up regulation at conception, which might make it extraordinarily tough for girls to entry contraception.
These payments have been criticized for his or her incorrectness as a result of they deprive individuals of company over their our bodies in line with Jamie Lockhart, the Exec Director at Deliberate Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. “Not solely would these ‘life begins at conception’ payments ban abortion, however additionally they have implications for contraception, particularly emergency contraception and in vitro fertilization,” she stated.
A professor of regulation at Northern Kentucky College, Judith Darr, has expressed comparable concern, particularly, she cited concern over the implications such a invoice would have for IVF practices. It’s because such a regulation would classify frozen embryos as human life, and thus would impose limitations on discarding it or genetically modifying it.
One other invoice, Home Invoice 1488, has been launched by Republican Del. John McGuire. If this invoice turns into regulation, then state-funded abortion in instances of rape, incest, or bodily deformities won’t be doable. In accordance with Dogwood, a Courier Newsroom publication, one other invoice launched by Republican Del. Nicholas Freitas mandates medical take care of aborted infants in case they survive the abortion process.
To counter the efforts of Republicans, the Democrats have vowed to enshrine the best to abortion in Virginia’s structure. Lockhart’s group, Deliberate Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, has been working in the direction of the actualization of this objective for a very long time.
On Jan. 26, her group will likely be organizing a Foyer Day on the State Capital, to lift consciousness about sexual and reproductive well being amongst legislators. “I believe that’s a good way to get entangled and present the ability of our motion,” she advised Dogwood, a Courier Newsroom publication.
On Jan. 23, Hampton Roads Reproductive Justice League, The Latina Institute VA, the Virginia Reproductive Fairness Alliance, and the REPRO Rising Virginia will likely be organizing a REPRO Advocacy Day, in a bid to foyer for reproductive rights.
“Republicans and Gov. Youngkin are attempting to say that this 15-week abortion ban is ultimately a compromise,” Lockhart stated. “Actually, all abortion bans are excessive as a result of they take away the energy of individuals to make their very own well being care choices. We all know that the actual objective…is to utterly ban abortion.”