Read My Lipstick: The Official EMILY's List Blog

Proposed Ohio abortion bill would require paternal consent

By Emily on 07/24/2009 @ 05:47 PM

Tags: Choice, Feminism

A "man's right to choose"? That's the phrase that's going around after an Ohio legislator introduced a bill recently requiring paternal consent -- in the form of written permission -- before doctors are allowed to perform abortions.

I can't say I'm speechless (because I have lots to say about this), but it's hard to put into words what an outrageous assault this is on a woman's constitutional right to privacy. The bill would require women to provide a list of possible fathers for paternity tests in cases in which the father is not known. And in incidents of rape or incest, women would be forced to provide proof in the form of court documents or police reports.

The state representative, John Adams (yes, really) from Sidney, Ohio, introduced similar legislation two years ago.

The current legislation has already caused an uproar, including immediate reactions from the choice community. From the executive director of Planned Parenthood of Ohio, Gary Daugherty: "The (U.S.) Supreme Court has already spoken on the issue. It is clearly unconstitutional."

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NYT: Ginsburg on the "Place of Women on the Court"

By Emily on 07/08/2009 @ 02:42 PM

Tags: Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, Feminism

NYT: Ginsburg on the "Place of Women on the Court"

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has never been one to hold back -- and that's exactly why we've loved watching her on the court.

Today's New York Times interview with Ginsburg truly captures the 16-year-veteran of the country's top court. Ginsburg had strong words of support for nominee Sonia Sotomayor, and didn't was quick to give one reason she's excited about the prospect of having another woman on the court: "I feel great that I don’t have to be the lone woman around this place."

Ginsburg's spunk -- "Has anybody watched Scalia or Breyer up on the bench?" -- and insight are as dead-on as ever.

And, Ruth, we completely agree with you about Sonia. We can't wait to see her up there, either.

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