Today is of course, #Roe43. The anniversary of the Supreme Court decision which changed the shape of not only lives of women nationwide, but the political landscape. It is also, for me personally, the anniversary of something else I think about today.. Tori Amos release of “Boys for Pele” — I will get to that later.
The question of Roe V Wade, 43 years old today, still kicks around statehouses around the country. Statehouses put up restrictions, rule changes, and conservatives work daily to stop access within their state. In Missouri, the number of bills this session on Abortion would cause anyone attending a meeting in Jefferson City to think there are very few other issues of importance. Whether it is All Lives Matter anti-abortion bill or the requirement of two-parent consent, states like Missouri have went out of their way to make access difficult or to remove access altogether.
States continue to fight to defund Planned Parenthood, and the level of violence against abortion clinics remains. The battle for women’s right is serious and ongoing.
Yesterday, in the Kansas State House, Planned Parenthood Kansas-MidMissouri and Trust Women held a press conference to discuss longterm birth control options for residents in Kansas who seek it. It was a measure that would limit abortions and provide women protection against pregnancy. In the world where conservatives contend they want to support fewer abortions, there would be minimal conservative interest in doing exactly that.
I’ve had time to speak to legislators on this issue in multiple states; beyond Kansas & Missouri, we discussed these issues in Orlando in the fall, California last year, North Carolina at our Kos gathering, Texas with the state Democrats and Daily Kos members.
I decided then I would write a diary today that, frankly, is the riskiest thing I have ever done as a Daily Kos writer. The fact that I say it outloud makes me realize the ridiculous level of fear and insecurity that surrounds this issue.