Women raped while in the US military are denied abortions. End this now

[Seedersandleechers]

"A female solider in Iraq is more likely to be attacked by a fellow soldier than killed by military fire," declared a piece on rape in the US military in the Guardian last December. As if the details of ensuing isolation, lack of psychological support and risk of homelessness weren't enough, one travesty was left out: unless life is at risk, military medical insurance does not fund abortion for women who are left pregnant after such attacks. Period.

Even if a woman can afford to pay for her own termination, military hospitals are currently outlawed from performing the procedure. The March Act, proposed by senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Barbara Boxer, Jeanne Shaheen, Patty Murray and Frank Lautenberg, seeks to change that. Endorsed by the Department of Defence, and given its appeal to patriotism as much as its pinpointing of this grievous human rights violation, can this be the law to finally persuade America's anti-choicers of the compassionate abortion argument? Or will it merely be the exception that proves the rule?

Much of the current legislative restriction on civilian abortion in the US relates to the 1976 Hyde amendment, which declared that federal funding should not cover abortion (initially relating to services offered by the low-income healthcare provider Medicaid), except in cases of rape, incest or where the life of the mother was at risk. Its relevance was alarmingly renewed in March 2010 when Barack Obama signed an executive order reiterating that protection of federal funds to save the $940bn healthcare bill.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/may/28/women-raped-us-military-abortions

[underpants]

1. Henry Hyde's horrific legacy

"What we tell the children??!!?!" he declared in 1998. Well YOU brought it up so YOU tell us.

then of course was HIS AFFAIR. It was a "youthful indiscretion" that ruined her married. Henry Hyde was a "youthful" 42 years old.

Hyde's legacy is one of shame.

[robinlynne]

2. what????

[freshwest]

3. The Teahadists will say that's okay, since it ain't happening to their chicken hawk selves.

Thanks for posting this. Of course we have to go to the Guardian to see this travesty reported.

This is from the same GOP that voted against the Violence Against Women Act.

There is no War On Women, it's all in your heads!

With Rush still infecting the minds of soldiers on active duty, there may not be any reduction in the rapes. At least the IVAW in Chicago spoke the truth to the crimes being committed. But it won't be reported fully in the USA M$M.

Commercial speech is not free speech. It is paid for speech and reflects only the views of its owners.

[awoke_in_2003]

4. I really am beginning to hate...

this backward-assed country.

[lookingfortruth]

5. This country is so ass- backwards.

[Odin2005]

6. And we have to get it from a British newspaper.

the MSM must be too busy talking about Snookie's baby bump.

[ZombieHorde]

7. That is really disturbing to me. nt

[SunSeeker]

8. This is a sickening affront to our female vets.

And it is even more maddening that the only paper mentioning it is in the UK!

[Harmony Blue]

9. Cowards

that is all that needs to be said.

[Historic NY]

10. If they start delivering the children to their commanders desks then that might get attention.