“Virginia is the last southern state without restrictions of abortion rights after the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade”
Following the General elections on Tuesday November 7, 2023, we saw a massive win for abortion rights in not only Virginia but other states as well. Since the over turn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, we see abortion rights to be front and center around a-lot of political issues.
States like Ohio had hard battles with abortion rights being directly on the ballot. While Virginias did not directly state abortion, those who we elect will directly affect those bills. with the whole house up for reelection, Virginia voters came out to exercise their rights. Democrats excitingly turned the house of representatives while keeping control of the Senate. All while Virginia still have a republican governor, Glen Youngkin, who has expressed passing bills limiting abortion rights up until 15 weeks of pregnancy. This over turn of the house is a giant win for democrats, but an even bigger accomplishment in the woman’s rights movement.
As this makes Virginia still the last standing southern state who has not restricted abortion rights. Currently in Virignia abortion is legal up until 26 weeks. with the over turn of the house of representatives and the senate also being blue, there is large belief that abortion rights are here to stay in Virginia, regardless of the relentless republican anti-abortion campaigning supported by our governor.
This is such a giant win for women in Virginia, as our rights continue to be protected. However, we see much stronger resistance to abortion rights in other states. After the overturn of roe v. wade, states like Ohio and Kentucky were completely stripped of abortion rights, even in extreme cases. States like Kentucky saw pushes from democratic legislature to start to accept abortion rights for other situations like rape or molestation. Democrat Governor Andy Beshear making a very heartfelt and emotional advertisement video of a little girl being raped by her step father. This video did not explicitly use the word abortion, however this videos intentions were very clear. Ohio had a similar approach to an emotional PSA for abortion rights. Videoing a couple who found out there unborn child had no chance at survival and abortion was the safest and healthiest way to help that situation. Both of these Ads show that there is more to having the right to an abortion.
As we can see the need for abortion is not only just for a couple of reasons, but hundreds. As Women who live in the United states these past two years has been extremely rough with the stripping of our reproductive rights. although not every persons values align with abortion and i understand that. But gives the allocation of women getting the basic essentials of health care if you needed to utilize it. Abortion rights also tie into the funding of planned parenthood which provides affordable health care other than abortions.
Since the result of women’s right to our reproductive health is in the hands of lawmakers, the biggest impact we can do is vote. continuing to vote in every election, to keep those democratic / pro-abortion rights candidates in office. As we saw this was a very worrisome time for Virginians, we responded and kept fighting for our rights with our votes.
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