Reproductive rights advocates in the United States (US) are outraged over a statement by an Oklahoma state legislator pushing for a bill that requires a pregnant woman who wishes to have an abortion, to seek the permission from her sexual partner to be able to do it.
Reproductive rights advocates in the United States (US) are outraged over a statement by an Oklahoma state legislator pushing for a bill that requires a pregnant woman who wishes to have an abortion, to seek the permission from her sexual partner to be able to do it.
In an interview with Intercept, Representative Justin Humphrey gave a bizarre explanation to support his argument for the bill. When a woman decides to be "irresponsible" by engaging in sex, Humphrey says she can no longer entirely claim her body her own, as she is a potential “host” to a pregnancy.
The following is an excerpt from the interview Humphrey had with Intercept:
Humphrey's disturbing language prompted Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America - a nonprofit organisation that provides reproductive health services, to tweet a response to his logic. "Another shining example of the need for accurate sex ducation: Rep. Justin Humphrey of Oklahoma probably doesn't understand birth control," tweeted Laguens,. "File under "Things you won't find shocking:" The bill's author likes to tell pregnant women they are "hosts," not real people," she added.
The Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch tweeted statistics about the assault on abortion access, provided by a leading research and policy organisation committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in US.
Humphrey's outrageous statement comes at a time of great concern in the US, which is facing roadblocks on reproductive rights and protection for women's health. In one of his first acts as president, Donald Trump recently re-instated the Global Gag Rule - an order that prevents US government money from going to organisations that provide abortions, talk or even provide information and awareness about it.
Humphrey’s bill, Vox reported, is one of two anti-abortion bills the Oklahoma legislature is currently considering and is likely be found unconstitutional in court.
Meanwhile, taking a cue from the Women's March, the Centre for Reproductive Rights has urged a call to action to fight the bill.
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 "abortion, United States (US), Planned Parenthood, women's health, Women's rights, Oklahoma, Justin Humphrey, Donald Trump, Globa")
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