Deciding whether and when to have a child is a decision that has lifelong effects -- one that needs to be made by each woman without coercion. But today the Senate Judiciary Committee hears a bill that would take that decision away from the woman and place it solely in the hands of her parents.
HB 391 would require pregnant minors to get the written consent of their parents in order to obtain an abortion. We strongly oppose this bill.
Every woman needs to make this decision for herself. Of course, consultation with family, doctor and other advisors can play an invaluable role, but it should not be forced. And allowing parents to decide whether their daughter can have an abortion or must have a baby is an extreme violation of her right to bodily autonomy.
For those who are interested in learning more about abortion, we urge you to attend the Abortion Monologues today at the Capitol. This series of vignettes shows abortion through the eyes of those who have experienced it. The Abortion Monologues, a play by Jane Cawthorne interweaves the experiences of teens, married professional women, mothers and Christians to reveal the personal circumstances that prompted the need for abortion. It will be performed from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Senate Judiciary Committee 8 a.m., Room 303
- HB 391 Requiring parental consent prior to an abortion for a minor
