I took this stand because I'm sick of the hypocrisy of Republican lawmakers who want to police women's reproductive health
Constance Johnson's handwritten amendment to Oklahoma senate bill 1433 – a 'Personhood' bill.
As a woman and a 31-year veteran of the legislative process in Oklahoma,
I am increasingly offended by state law trends that solely focus on the
female's role in the reproductive process. With Oklahoma's new,
never-before-experienced Republican majority, we are seeing enactment of
more and more measures that adversely affect women and their rights to
access safe medical procedures when making reproductive healthcare
decisions.
My action to amend the so-called "Personhood" bill – SB 1433, introduced by Senator Brian Crain (Republican, Tulsa) – represents the culmination of my and many other Oklahomans' frustration regarding the ridiculousness of our reproductive policy initiatives in Oklahoma. I have received overwhelmingly positive responses from men and women in Oklahoma – and worldwide. The Personhood bill would potentially allow governmental intrusion into families' personal lives by policing what happens to a woman's eggs without any similar thought to what happens to a man's sperm.
My amendment seeks to draw attention to the absurdity, duplicity and lack of balance inherent in the policies of this state in regard to women. Oklahoma already incarcerates more women than any other place in the world. Under the latest provisions, a woman in Oklahoma may now face additional criminal charges and potential incarceration for biological functions that produce or, in some cases, destroy eggs or embryos, such as a miscarriage. In vitro fertilization, involving the fertilization outside the womb for implantation into the womb, would also potentially represent a violation of the proposed Personhood statute.
Finally, this amendment seeks to draw humorous attention to the hypocrisy and inconsistency of this proposal – from the Republican perspective of down-sized government and less government intrusion into people's private affairs. Despite the great challenges our state faces, it is far more important that we address issues such as affordable healthcare to help improve our state's ranking of 48th in health status; to create good, secure jobs that grow our economy; and ensure that all citizens have access to quality, affordable education.
My action to amend the so-called "Personhood" bill – SB 1433, introduced by Senator Brian Crain (Republican, Tulsa) – represents the culmination of my and many other Oklahomans' frustration regarding the ridiculousness of our reproductive policy initiatives in Oklahoma. I have received overwhelmingly positive responses from men and women in Oklahoma – and worldwide. The Personhood bill would potentially allow governmental intrusion into families' personal lives by policing what happens to a woman's eggs without any similar thought to what happens to a man's sperm.
My amendment seeks to draw attention to the absurdity, duplicity and lack of balance inherent in the policies of this state in regard to women. Oklahoma already incarcerates more women than any other place in the world. Under the latest provisions, a woman in Oklahoma may now face additional criminal charges and potential incarceration for biological functions that produce or, in some cases, destroy eggs or embryos, such as a miscarriage. In vitro fertilization, involving the fertilization outside the womb for implantation into the womb, would also potentially represent a violation of the proposed Personhood statute.
Finally, this amendment seeks to draw humorous attention to the hypocrisy and inconsistency of this proposal – from the Republican perspective of down-sized government and less government intrusion into people's private affairs. Despite the great challenges our state faces, it is far more important that we address issues such as affordable healthcare to help improve our state's ranking of 48th in health status; to create good, secure jobs that grow our economy; and ensure that all citizens have access to quality, affordable education.
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So every sperm is sacred after all
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Good idea to spell it out: they might not get it and vote the amendment in..
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I like a woman with spunk. You go girl!
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Ha, good for you, Constance! Especially when the Catholic church throws a hissy about having to provide contraception to employees, but Viagra is fine.
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Brilliant!
I can just see them wondering if they have enough law enforcement officers and prison space to round up every single male aged 10 and up for the mass murder of millions.
It's so depressing this debate is still going on, not just in Oklahoma but in so many places where those in power should just know better.
And every single man involved who thinks he can tell a woman what she can do with her own body should be deeply ashamed of himself.
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So, these pro death penalty guys who have 'accidents' in their pants when the switch is pulled better beware.
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bunch of wankers.
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I agree with your aims, but here is a biology lesson.
There is one crucial difference between the production of eggs and sperm.
A female is born with a fixed number of eggs in her ovaries. The ovary will produce no more eggs in her lifetime, only release them at suitable points of the cycle. It is still more than enough eggs for 1 or 2 per month for 35 years.
In a man, the testes continue to produce millions of sperm every day. There is no limit, or fixed number of sperm that can e produced in a lifetime. There can never ever be any (religious or otherwise) justification for frowning upon masturbation (onanism). Semen is not a precious resource. In fact, the quality of sperm and semen is improved by regular masturbation, making fertilization more likely. So men, regular exercise if you and your partner want babies.
9 February 2012 2:17PM
The actual bill in question would define life as starting at conception. Just in case anyone was curious.
BTW, she withdrew the amendment already. In this case, withdrawel seems to work
