This 14-year-old girl in Austin is out there standing for reproductive choice. She is precocious in expressing her rights as a citizen.
I also believe in the right to choose and the separation of church and state. To put it the way I wrote it when I was protesting at the Capitol last week:
"Jesus isn't a dick so keep him out of my vagina."
She stays classy in response to the "adults" who try to shame her, both face-to-face and online. Her amazing father backs her up, very stalwart, very rational.
My dad came to my defense online, but for the first time I am outing myself publicly. I'm 14. Please stop calling me a whore.
I'm a 14-year-old girl who has lived in Austin, Texas, my whole life. I like art, music and talking on the phone with my friends. When I grow up, I'd like to become a science teacher.
I also believe in the right to choose and the separation of church and state. Or to put it another way -- to put it the way I wrote it when I was protesting at the Capitol last week:
"Jesus isn't a dick so keep him out of my vagina."
Yes, that's my sign.
I came up with it last week when my friend and I were trying to think of ideas for what would get people's attention to protest the scary restrictions that are happening in my state trying to take away a woman's right to safe and accessible abortions.
It worked.
When my friend and I took turns holding the sign, one of the pictures of her went viral.
Then my dad went online to defend the sign on Twitter and other online forums.
That's when people started calling me a "whore."
I'm going to be honest about what it feels like to be called that as a 14-year-old girl who has never had sex and who doesn't plan to have sex anytime soon.
I feel disappointed. [snip]
my dad woke me up so that I could watch the Wendy Davis filibuster the night that she tried to prevent this legislation from passing the first time. I remember thinking that I was proud to be from Texas watching her stand up for what is right. [emphasis added]
That was when I told my parents that I wanted to join in the protests. I have seen anti-abortion protesters at a clinic near our house, and it makes me upset to see women who are facing this hard decision being told that Jesus condemns them.
I guess I don't think it seems very Christian to me. [snip]
Normally, I prefer to look up to adults as role models. But what is happening in Texas right now it's hard to find adults who I want to look up to.
I don't look up to an adult who is taking away a woman's right to choose.
I don't look up to an adult who is calling a 14-year-old girl a whore.
I don't look up to an adult who is screaming in my face and saying I am ugly.
And I certainly don't look up to anyone who says they are Christian but treats women the way I've been treated these past few days as a teenage girl.
Dad, a cool-headed, fact-based first amendment patriot, backs her up:
Ready to help explain what is at stake for American and Texas women. Bring on the battle of scientific information and statistics. [snip]
Anyone that wants to help share statistics, personal stories, and facts on Twitter, I would appreciate some help. The challenge I have for you is this: no CAPS; no personal attacks; stay un-emotional; stick to the facts; read what evidence is posted and comment thoughtfully; and overall, keep your cool. The anti-choice side has no class. Let's show them that we can be above that level of discourse, because we can. Finally, share online petitions that send people to pro - women's organizations of one type or another. Use the publicity of this to spread the word that women are literally being oppressed across America and the world. This is supposed to be the 20th century. [snip] LOL. The 21st Century.
There's more
here and good community support in the comments.
To support the women's health/pro-choice community in Texas and nationally:
NARAL Pro-choice Texas,
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Inc.,
Planned Parenthood Action Fund,
Lilith Fund, assists Texas women in exercising their fundamental right to abortion by removing barriers to access.
Update: Thanks for the recs and comments, folks! First time evah on the rec list!