Sorry if this is a bit fractured, I'm in a hurry...
Today the Louisiana House will vote on SB33. This bill will ban all abortions except those performed to save the life of the mother, or to prevent permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ or organs. Get that, folks? No rape exception, no exception for incest. If passed, this legislation will go into effect when Roe is overturned by the Supreme Court. This is your last chance to get on the horn with somebody who can do something about it.
Plan B would still be available under this law, but that isn't any great concession, because it isn't all that widely available in the Gulf South anyway, thanks to those wonderful "conscience clauses" pharmacists down here are so fond of. Lots of pharmacies won't dispense it, and most don't even stock it. If your local pharmacy
does stock it, you won't know unless you ask. The ladies at
ProChoice Mississippi are trying to compile a comprehensive database of pharmacies in the South that carry Plan B, as well as Ob/Gyns who will prescribe it. The
MSACLU is compiling a similar database of pharmacies in Mississippi. If you know of one, send one of those folks a note.
Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of this legislation to women all over the Gulf South. This bill would not affect only women in Louisiana, but women on the Mississippi Gulf Coast who find it easier to travel to clinics in New Orleans or Baton Rouge than to the single remaining clinic in their state. This is our last chance to be heard, our final shot at speaking up on this issue. I encourage all of you to call the Louisiana House of Representatives and let them know the grave disservice they are doing to their constituencies.
Update: They are currently debating an amendment by representative Dewitt to include exceptions for rape and incest. I think this bill is going to pass, and I am sobbing into my keyboard right now. You can watch the train wreck at this website.
Update Some More: It passed, 85 to 17. No exceptions for rape or incest, despite valiant efforts on the part of several representatives, notably Monica Walker, Karen Carter, and Charles Dewitt. Give them some props when you get the chance - they tried their damnedest. For myself, I'm going to go vomit for a while, and then spend some time cursing Catholics, if that's alright with everyone.
At least there's an exception for the health of the mother. Sort of. Sigh.
Am. So. Depressed. Right. Now.