Kentucky General Assembly Fixated on Controlling the Bodies and Lives of Kentuckians

Two anti-abortion bills mirror the dystopian reality of The Handmaid’s Tale

Frankfort, KY –Today, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana and Kentucky (PPAIK) condemn the House Judiciary Committee for holding hearings on two dangerous anti-abortion bills that seek to strip the power of the people, the governor, and access to reproductive freedom for Kentuckians across the commonwealth.

Bills like HB 370 and HB 451 have nothing to do with health care, and are only meant to add restrictions to make abortion inaccessible. Both bills have passed the committee and are headed to the House Floor for a vote, which could happen as early as this Friday.

The following is a quote from Tamarra Wieder, State Political Director at PPAIK:

“A total of eight bills have been filed by the Kentucky General Assembly attempting to ban abortion—a constitutionally protected right. Two of these bills are being heard the same day as the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo, a case about a medically unnecessary restriction designed to make abortion inaccessible. Abortion access is in great danger, and what is happening in Kentucky has little to do with health care and everything to do with control. This is why you are seeing handmaids at the capitol.

“The dystopian society we have all seen on television is just a few votes away from reality here in Kentucky. Reproductive freedom is on the line. The attacks on the right to decide if and when to become a parent has reached a boiling point.

“The U.S. Supreme Court, with newly appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, mean the fate of abortion access is in real jeopardy. A minority of elected officials and Trump-appointed judges are doing everything they can to create a world in which basic reproductive health care is inaccessible.

“We won’t stand for these attacks because this is not what people want. Nearly 77 percent of Americans do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned and 65 percent of voters in Kentucky support access to reproductive care. Right now, we need that majority to speak up.”

See more photos here.

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Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky’s (PPINK) mission is to serve persons in Indiana and Kentucky —without bias or judgment, without fear, without fail — by providing access to high-quality health care confidentially and compassionately; by reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections through age-appropriate and accurate sexual health education; and by advocating for freedom of individual choice in all matters of sexual health and reproductive justice.

PPINK’s doors are open to all who need care and we provide our services in a confidential, compassionate and non-judgmental manner. Learn more at www.ppink.org.