Jen Woods of the Reproductive Freedom Project: Feb. 13

(Courtesy of Virginia Blum)

A bill has been introduced that would outlaw abortion in Kentucky if passed, similar to the actions that we have seen in South Dakota this past week.

In response, the UK Feminist Alliance / Students for Choice is hosting Jennifer Woods of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. Come find out where Kentucky is in terms of reproductive freedom and what we can do it keep our rights.

When: 13 February 2006, 730pm
Where: Gaines Center for the Humanities Commonwealth House, 232 E. Maxwell St.
Who: Jen Woods of the Reproductive Freedom Project
Snacks provided! ....

Here's part of Woods' email: "This bill is only one of FOUR heinous bills we are now fighting. The other three are not as blatant and have to deal with the 24 hour wait system. As it is now, women can have their state mandated consultation 24 hours before over the phone. These bills require the visit to be in person, which places an undue burden on women, particularly those who have to travel long distances to get to Louisville/Lexington. In reality, these bills aim at shutting down clinics by making it impossible to meet state demands. They also require physicians to tell women that because of a medical and scientific consenus, they are terminating a seperate and distinct human life, as life begins at conception. I don't need to tell you all that this is a farce. To make matters worse, Democratic leadership is folding on these bills, promising at least one will get heard this session (which means it will get a vote and most likely pass). I would be happy to talk to your group more about these bills so you know what's what. Meanwhile, please look them over, contact your legislators, let Addia Wuchner know your thoughts, and come to Frankfort with us for a day to help lobby."

Pressure is mounting from those who wish to restrict the rights of
women to reproductive healthcare.

Your legislators need to hear from you!

Several restrictive bills have been introduced in the state House and
Senate and there appears to be momentum for passing them.

As of Friday, the following bills had been introduced:

SB 125 – Would require women to make two trips to Louisville or
Lexington in order to have a face-to-face visit 24 hours prior to an
abortion procedure. Physicians who do not follow this provision would
be subject to criminal penalties.

HB 461 – Would require women to make two trips to Louisville or
Lexington in order to have a face-to-face visit 24 hours prior to an
abortion procedure.

HB 489 – Would ban all abortion except to save the life of the woman.

HB 490 – Would require women to make two trips to Louisville or
Lexington in order to have a face-to-face visit 24 hours prior to an
abortion procedure and would require health care providers to repeat
state-mandated information unrelated to standard informed consent to
each woman seeking an abortion.

Please call both your state Representative and your state Senator and
tell them to OPPOSE all legislation that further restricts access to
reproductive healthcare. Determining when or if to have children is a
personal decision, not a government decision.

In addition to your own legislators, please leave the same message for
each member of House leadership:

Speaker Jody Richards
Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark
Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins
Majority Caucus Chair Bob Damron
Majority Whip Joe Barrows
You can leave messages for your state Rep and state Senator and all
members of House leadership with one phone call to 1-800-372-7181 or
or call 1-502-564-8100 to speak directly to your legislators.

Ask them to OPPOSE all legislation that further restrict
women's access to healthcare. Determining when or if to have children
should be left to women and their families, not the government.

Read the full text of these bills on the Legislative Research
Commission website

To see a list of bills the ACLU of Kentucky is tracking during this
session, visit our
Website