Saying "vagina" aloud gets elected official banned from speaking on Michigan House floor
Female Legislator Who Dared Say ‘Vagina’ During Abortion Debate Banned From Speaking on House Floor
After offending Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas by using the offensively medically accurate word "vagina" in an impassioned floor speech opposing Michigan's draconian new abortion law, State Representative Lisa Brown was banned indefinitely from speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives. Her colleague Barb Byrum, another passionate pro-choice elected official, was also served with an indefinite Shut The Fuck Up order from the the male-lead body. Apparently, during Michigan's War on Women, ladies aren't even allowed to serve in combat.
Byrum and Brown joined several of their female colleagues in voicing their vehement opposition to Michigan's anti-abortion bill, a steaming pile of misogyny that would criminalize all abortions after 20 weeks' gestation in all cases (so, if you had some terribly severe birth defects, too bad, sister — you carry that dead baby until that dead baby decides to be born) and contains no exceptions for the woman's health. It also straps abortion providing facilities with new burdens designed solely to make it a pain in the ass for them to operate.
As you might expect, debate's been heated. Hundreds of women have flooded the capitol to protest the bill's careless fast tracking, ham-fisted paternalism, and disingenuous concern mongering. Yesterday, before the bill was passed by the House, several female state representatives stood up to voice their opposition to the proposal. And two of them got a little too uppity for the male Speaker's taste. Want to get mad? Of course you do. Anger is the only way you know how to feel feelings anymore. Read on; it gets worse.
This is the kind of headline you expect to see in The Onion
Vagina. There I've said it. Go ahead and ban me. I gather that the Vagina Monologues was not a big hit with Michigan Republicans.
Just when I thought American politics could not get any more rotten to the core. To think that the exceptionalism of their great "democracy" is the excuse used for oppressing other nations around the globe.
So as not to offend our more delicate members, I'm considering amending the thread title using the phrase "down there".
ETA: Oh yes, and of course I've banned kropotkin
Speak for your own delicate member.
There may be kids readind so maybe we could just say "hoo hoo" or "lady bits"
Yeah, this isn't sending the healthiest message.
Come on guys this is a thread about women's parts not penis size.
But seriously the only reason to joke about this news is to keep from crying. The thought that misogynists can be that blatant in the US in 2012 leaves one speechless.
Another
modMaude has already made these observations:Best line of this article:
Bold added. Um does dude forget that we're, like, the proud owners of said va-jay-jays? Yes I said it.
Yeah, have to laugh or I'd cry. Or punch someone.
Can you believe women still vote for this party?
It would be awesome if feminists gathered in front of the legislature and chanted "Vagina! Vagina! Vagina!" as the Representatives arrive at and leave the House.
That's an excellent idea! There should be a 24-hour vagina vigil outside. Force the cops to drag them away chanting "Vagina! Vagina!" That would make the news all right.
I LOVE this idea! A very Pythonesque response to the Legislators of MI who cannot abide that word.
I'm going to assume that if "vagina" is offensive then "clitoris" is simply unheard of.
Oh wait......
Clitoris? Where's that?
It's a small town in Michigan. Most men have never heard of it. Those that have, find it difficult to get to.
See... even on this specialized map, you won't find "clitoris". It's more difficult than I thought...
From Mayse's link:
I just heard, on a Detroit radio station, that "The Vagina Monologues" is to be staged on the steps of the Michigan Legislature.
That is great! I hope they do this monologue. (Probably not safe for work...)
Some nice songs on the subject of vaginas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iHAl3uPrCvY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HTbJooNftWM
http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2012/06/18/men-who-sing-out-for-vagi...
Great videos!
http://www.centralohio.com/usatoday/article/55684470?odyssey=mod%7Cnewsw...
What is going on with the "spread of red" in the U.S. Am I dreaming or were states like Michigan, Wisconsin, etc., considered "liberal" bastions at some point in the not too far past? I guess "the south shall rise again" wasn't a joke.
Even with someone considered to be a "socialist" as president this is occuring. The so-cons have decided to attack from the state level I guess. It seems like the situation has gone too far to ever be reversed.
This is all I'm going to say about trans erasure in this thread. Some women have penises. Get over it.
I obviously do not have the language skills to post on this board, sorry.