Texas African-American History Memorial, 100 W. 11th St.
What Century Is It Anyway?
RECEIVED Mon., March 26, 2012
Dear Editor,
The times, they are a-changing – and not for the better. These are perilous times for women in Texas. Due to a political power play, in the last legislative session, 300,000 Texas women lost their access to cancer screenings, mammograms, and preventative care.
The transvaginal ultrasound, an invasive, expensive, and medically unnecessary procedure, is now mandatory before legally terminating a pregnancy. For a woman facing the hardest of decisions, to be forced to endure this shaming test is punitive and disgraceful. Legislators passed this law based on their personal and religious motives, yet they do not support sex education or contraception which lower unplanned pregnancy rates. Instead, contraception itself – the key to control over our lives and reducing abortion rates – is under attack. Does that make sense?
Decades ago, women fought for and won equality under the law. We will not sit quietly by and allow our rights to be eroded. We demand the right to make our own reproductive decisions with our physicians. We insist on determining our actions based upon our own personal and religious values. These decisions must not be mandated by the state.
On April 28, a roar will be heard from women and men at rallies being held in every state and D.C. Join us on the steps of the Texas Capitol at 4pm. Help make Texas voices the strongest in the country. We must do this for ourselves, our mothers, sisters, daughters, granddaughters, and for all the women we love. We must halt this stampede to go back to the days when women were not in control of our lives, our choices, or our destinies. Visit www.wowtex.org to get involved. Then come to Austin where we will make it clear that we will not go back. We're outraged, and we vote!
The times, they are a-changing – and not for the better. These are perilous times for women in Texas. Due to a political power play, in the last legislative session, 300,000 Texas women lost their access to cancer screenings, mammograms, and preventative care.
The transvaginal ultrasound, an invasive, expensive, and medically unnecessary procedure, is now mandatory before legally terminating a pregnancy. For a woman facing the hardest of decisions, to be forced to endure this shaming test is punitive and disgraceful. Legislators passed this law based on their personal and religious motives, yet they do not support sex education or contraception which lower unplanned pregnancy rates. Instead, contraception itself – the key to control over our lives and reducing abortion rates – is under attack. Does that make sense?
Decades ago, women fought for and won equality under the law. We will not sit quietly by and allow our rights to be eroded. We demand the right to make our own reproductive decisions with our physicians. We insist on determining our actions based upon our own personal and religious values. These decisions must not be mandated by the state.
On April 28, a roar will be heard from women and men at rallies being held in every state and D.C. Join us on the steps of the Texas Capitol at 4pm. Help make Texas voices the strongest in the country. We must do this for ourselves, our mothers, sisters, daughters, granddaughters, and for all the women we love. We must halt this stampede to go back to the days when women were not in control of our lives, our choices, or our destinies. Visit www.wowtex.org to get involved. Then come to Austin where we will make it clear that we will not go back. We're outraged, and we vote!
Kathy Silberman
