Not Just Alabama… The Entire South is Backwards as H*ll.

In an unprecedented move, the “state” of Alabama’s legislature just passed the most restrictive abortion law in the nation, essentially a near-total ban on abortions. The law in Alabama would prevent a woman from receiving an abortion FOR ANY REASON, except to avoid a serious health risk to the unborn child’s mother, in the case of an ectopic pregnancy, or if the unborn child has a lethal anomaly . Despite severe opposition from Democrats in the state, the legislature also denied an amendment that would provide exceptions for women who have been raped, or a victim of incest.

Adding insult to injury, Alabama has also made it punishable by law for doctors to perform an abortion or attempt an abortion (whatever that means) with the possibility of up to 99 years in prison. Naturally staring in utter disbelief at the news, my immediate reaction was to ask who raised these members of the legislature, but I quickly remembered this is Alabama so generally misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, and most likely racist bible thumpers that attempt to wrap their vitriol for anything non-cis heterosexual and white in a bow of Christianity.

Of course, Alabama was not the only state to pass incomprehensible restrictions on women’s health and rights, their neighbors to the east and west Georgia and Mississippi also recently passed restrictive abortion laws. Georgia and Mississippi’s laws would prevent a woman from receiving an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected at or around 6-weeks of gestation (generally, before most women even know they are pregnant). Mississippi’s law only provides an exception to “prevent a woman’s death or her serious risk of impairment. ” The Georgia law however by the grace of some all-powerful entity, does provide exceptions for women who are victims of rape, incest, and/or who’s life could be in medical jeopardy .

So what is it about these southern former slave states that continue to perpetuate this backwards thinking as it relates to women’s rights? Historically the southeastern portion of the United States has lower literacy rates, higher poverty rates, and some of the worst rates for any chronic disease across the nation. One would assume that the legislatures in these states would make any one of those issues their top priority. However, they seem to have focused their attention on suppressing women’s rights and medical autonomy. Is it because these states are still shrouded in patriarchy that require women to be subservient to men? Could it be that men know more about a woman’s body and hence should make life altering decisions for her? Or maybe it’s because [god] told them to “do his will.”

Whatever the reason is, these states consistently pass laws that infringe on the rights of women, and other minorities who would simply like to live their lives without undue interference by the government. These states are also the ones famous for minority voter suppression in the form of gerrymandering, devoted worship to the confederate flag and guns, a seething underbelly of racism, and generally anti-progressive attitudes and beliefs, just so you understand exactly what we are dealing with.

The irony of this entire situation however is that Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi are three of the remaining states that have not expanded Medicaid. This essentially means that they do not want to provide welfare or financial assistance to more members of society that are at or below the poverty level, and in the same breath passed laws that would add more children to the system from populations that are in the most need of more Medicaid services.

While this truly does seem like dark times across the nation, you know with blatant racism showing its ugly face, a self-destructive cheeto-puff leading the executive branch, and now these attacks on women’s rights, the glimmer of light in the distance are the people ready and willing to fight the good fight to protect our rights. Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union are preparing for legal battles with these states against their restrictive abortion laws. The good news being similar abortion bills like those that passed in these states have been struck down by the Courts as unconstitutional in North Dakota, Iowa and Kentucky.

While the fate of these bills are yet to be determined in the courts, this should serve as a reminder to the masses to pay close attention to your local legislatures. They are responsible for passing laws that would most directly affect your everyday lives. Be sure to stay informed and an active participant in the election process. We do have the power to get these bigots out of office and allow for change and progress, but only if we try.