If it feels like open game season has been declared on women, your feelings are absolutely correct. Our putatively job creation obsessed Congress has been singularly incapable of delivering the goods. They seem instead to have settled for the deeply gratifying right wing pursuit of scuttling Obama’s and the Dem’s attempts to actually do something about jobs, tuition relief for students, tax fairness and infrastructure investments.
But don’t call the right wing obstructionists in Congress and also in the State legislatures slackers. Doing nothing about the economy has given them ample time to turn their attention to the national pastime of legislating away the protections of Roe v Wade and launching a full on onslaught against contraception coverage, Planned Parenthood women’s health clinics, violence against women legislation and guarantees of wage parity.
The number and breadth of anti-women legislation across the whole country are pretty numbing. The Michigan State legislature however descended to a heretofore impossible to imagine all time low. Majority Leader Jim Stamas issued a STFU order to two pro-choice female colleagues who spoke out against a proposed draconian abortion law.
Leader Stamas upbraided the little ladies, State Reps Lisa Brown and Barb Byrum for their “temper tantrum” and shocking use of the word “vagina.” They have been put in the time out room, which is to say that they have been banned indefinitely from speaking out on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Representative Lisa Brown was busted for the following interchange:
“Democratic Representative Lisa Brown: I have not asked you to adopt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adopt yours? And finally, Mr. Speaker, I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.
[Brief cheering from the gallery]
House Speaker: Members, I do ask that you respect the decorum of the House.”
It is apparent that the medically correct word “vagina,” which is an undeniable subject in the anti-abortion legislation, is simply too much to bear for the delicate sensibilities of the gentlemen. These same gentleman however are nevertheless deemed much more capable of weighing in on these matters than woman are. Perhaps they would be more comfortable with the term “bajingo.” Or “Vordemort.”
There has been an immediate and rousing push-back against the majority male Republican legislature and Jim Stamas in particular. A group of pro-vagina women and the men who trust and love them have declared Monday June 18th V-Day. Director Eve Ensler and a cast of local activists, including Democratic women in the state legislature, will join with actors to perform the Vagina Monologues on the Michigan Capitol steps.
I will be busy sending out Vagina-grams. This one’s for you, Jim Stamas. Vagina. Vagina. Vagina.
Anna Daniels
Latest posts by Anna Daniels (see all)
- Bob Dorn: Rest in Power! - December 3, 2018
- The Urgency of Transgender Safety, Legal Protections - November 27, 2018
- Chaos and Cruelty at the Border - November 26, 2018
I am so happy that I am not the only person upset by the denial of the right of women to speak up. Women need to wake up and realize our rights are being threatened in state houses all over this country. I don’t understand why Dems don’t run this time on social issues – women’s rights in particular – as it regularly works for the GOP. Good luck on V-Day – will be watching to see if the male dominated press even mentions it. Go Vaginas!
It’s not just men. Rightwing leaning women can be quite the adversary of women in general. I myself had had the interesting experience of working with women colleges who feel other women who have abortions should be criminally charged with murder and given the death penalty. Needless to say I didn’t get along with them very well.
Could not find him on twitter, but here is the Michigan House email address:
businessoffice@house.mi.gov
and here’s the big guy’s email address;
JimStamas@house.mi.gov
But twitter is “atwitter” with vaginagrams at this very moment!
Sent mine! Told him that “These Boots are made for Walking” will be his next campaign song if he even tries to get re-elected.
Jonathan Mann, who writes a song a day, performs the Vagina Song. “Vagina, vagina–if you can’t say the word you’re out of your mind-a. ” What more can I possibly add?
Great job, Anna! You go, Girl!
Christine
Those right-wing men who don’t like vaginas are hypocrites and liars! They came from one, for starters.
LOL!
& check out this on youtube: Hands off my clam!
Thanks for sharing this link, Anna! A lot of wisdom in her humor!
Christine