by Meghan Rapp, Sr. Program Manager, State Strategies

The Kentucky State Senate last week passed an ultrasound bill last week that is ridiculous, medically unnecessary, and downright insulting to women. Senate Bill 9 (passed 32-5) would require that a woman seeking an abortion in Kentucky wait 24 hours and also view an ultrasound of the fetus. If a woman chooses to avert her eyes from the ultrasound, a doctor would still have to describe the image to her. 

Restrictions like this aren’t uncommon – in fact, 20 states either require that an ultrasound take place or be offered to a woman prior to the abortion procedure.  What’s uncommon – and especially troubling – in this Kentucky bill is that women are required to view the ultrasound or to have a description given to them.  Not only is it insulting to think that a woman doesn’t understand what the decision she’s just made, but it’s flat-out a medically unnecessary procedure. On top of all this, the bill requires a woman to wait 24 hours after a consult before having an abortion. Insulting- again – as though a woman doesn’t understand what she’s doing an needs the government to force her to think about it. This is devastating, as well, for women who can’t afford to take the time off again to go back to the clinic in 24 hours, can’t afford to hire child care for another day, or don’t have access to reliable transportation.

by Nikki Serapio, Manager, New Media Strategies

Some of you probably remember the infamous tenure of former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (PA), who was widely condemned time and time again for his anti-gay remarks, his extreme anti-choice views...basically, his entire out-of-touch and fundamentalist social agenda.

Well, Santorum is back on the political stage, ostensibly to position himself as a viable 2012 Republican Presidential nominee. And while other potential nominees have been criticizing the Obama administration lately on a number of economic issues, Santorum has differentiated himself by lasering in on what he thinks is truly outrageous: how an African American President could possibly have the gall to support abortion rights.

by Abby Rosenstein, State Strategies Coordinator

Mayor Joan Foster of Lynchburg, Virginia has announced a Day of Purity Proclamation, and in doing so, has joined the Liberty Council's "Day of Purity," to take place on February 14, 2011.

This year will be the eighth annual Day of Purity - "a day on which students can make a public demonstration of their committment to remain sexually pure, in mind and actions." Liberty Council encourages participants to wear white, sign a "purity pledge," and wear wristbands to signal their intention to remain abstinent outside of marriage. The Day of Purity's facebook fan page states that they "promote that you DO have the choice to remain sexually pure," but then goes on to state that the Day of Purity "is designed for students of all ages who commit to remain sexually pure until marriage." This isn't about an individual's choice to abstain from sex - this is about enforcing a singular ideology on everyone, regardless of whether or not it is right for them, or even includes them at all.