Don't Mess with Texas Women

Pro-choice people at the Texas Legislature

The Texas legislature tried to push through some of the strongest anti-abortion bills in the US this last weekend.
"The meeting had been called with only two hours’ notice and was held in a tiny room without a live video feed or seating for members of the public or media."

I don't like this kind of sneakiness. I do admire the hundreds of pro-choice people who tried to be heard at the legislature but were eventually shut down. I don't like that you probably won't hear a thing about this on the news.

http://www.texasobserver.org/extraordinary-turnout-last-night-for-the-citizens-filibuster-of-anti-abortion-bills/

A couple of comments:

"I'm sitting in the Senate galley right now, impressed as hell not only at the 1000+ who came out yesterday and the who were still standing strong at 3:24 a.m., but also at the family with 4 young boys who are clearly taking a day out of their summer vacation to get a real-life civics lesson. More power to the moms and dads who have the patience, forethought, and commitment to teach their children why and how our political process matters for everyone. A gentle and powerful reminder that women's rights are human rights."

"Not 3 citizens waiting to give testimony -- 300. I was at the Capitol until around 11:00 PM last night. It was overwhelming to see the huge number of supporters decked out in orange to protest the bill. And disheartening to see Republican legislators refuse to listen to us."

from:  http://www.thefrisky.com/2013-06-24/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-texas-anti-abortion-bills-and-the-feminist-army-fighting-them/#comment-940570079

And I am appalled the republican representative Laurenberg thinks a rape kit is some form of abortion and opposed to a means of collecting evidence!!

The bill's sponsor stopped answering questions about her bill after the first two hours after she got into trouble denying Democratic amendments. When Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, called for an exemption for women who were victims of rape and incest, Rep. Jody Laubenberg, R-Parker, explained why she felt it was unnecessary.

"In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out," she said, comparing the procedure to an abortion. "The woman had five months to make that decision, at this point we are looking at a baby that is very far along in its development."

Her apparent confusion about "rape kits" — a phrase generally used to describe the equipment used by medical personnel during forensic examinations to gather physical evidence following allegations of rape or sexual assault — sparked widespread ridicule on social media sites. Laubenberg, who has difficulty debating bills, then simply rejected all proposed changes to her bill without speaking until the end of the debate.

I'm sorry, but this kind of marked ignorance and lack of understanding upsets the hell out of me.