Voicing Our Reproductive Rights: Mom Talk

Here’s an idea: In order to prevent pregnancy, let’s create a penis plug. I’ll get seven of my girlfriends together to design them.

We can make them in different sizes, in a variety of fashion colors. We can have a carrying case for men to slip discreetly in their wallets. Whaddya think?

That’s about as sensible as the eight stuffy old white men who are making decisions about women’s reproductive rights.

Shame on the Republican majority House Oversight Committee for convening to discuss the Obama administration’s stance on birth control and health insurance—eight men and not a uterus among them.

Moms, we need to have a voice concerning what is going on in Washington right now. No matter how we feel politically or religiously, we need to be heard.

Chairman Darrell Issa, R­–Calif., turned away the only female witness, calling her “inappropriate.” Perhaps it was that she is an Obama supporter. Perhaps he nixed her because she is a Georgetown law student. Either way, Issa may never know if she were appropriate or not since he wouldn’t let her speak.

Before you, readers, come out and fillet me as a “left-wing liberal,” let me just say I’m a moderate Democrat Roman Catholic, fiscally-conservative feminist who joined the pro-life march on Washington in 1990. This isn’t about my political opinions. This is about being shut out of a discussion that is exclusively about us.

But thank God Viagra isn’t at risk of losing insurance coverage!

What Issa and his cronies need to know are all the other reasons why birth control pills are prescribed—not just to prevent contraception. There are countless reasons why hormone supplements are prescribed—many of which have no religious conflicts. I, myself, was prescribed them for migraine after a 12-day hospitalization with chronic, severe headaches. My priest didn’t have any problem with that.

Yet, our voice was silenced. If it were an issue concerning blacks or gays, there would have been witnesses representing those people. And yet, when it comes to women, there is still a double standard.

Women’s opinions are as diverse as we are. Issa, you aren’t a leader if you think we are going to tolerate being ignored. Thanks to your pompous politicking, I got out my checkbook and made a donation—and it wasn’t to your narrow-minded camp, either.

And if that doesn’t work, there is always the penis plug.