MI State Rep. Lisa Brown has an op-ed in today's Detroit News [View all]

[Bozita]

June 16, 2012 at 1:00 am
Rep. Lisa Brown: Silenced on the House floor for using correct body terms
By Rep. Lisa Brown
47 Comments


Thursday was an important day at the Michigan Capitol. Many big decisions were being made, and my constituents sent me to be their voice at the Capitol. That is why I am shocked that Republican leadership of the Michigan House of Representatives told me that I wouldn't be allowed to speak on the House floor that day.

So why was I silenced? On Wednesday I spoke against a sweeping new anti-choice bill. This bill attempts to over-regulate women's health clinics to the point that many could no longer offer abortions. Among other things, the plan would require doctors to make funeral arrangements for fetal remains after miscarriages.

In my comments on the House floor, I used a word that Speaker Jase Bolger and floor leader Jim Stamas are clearly offended by. I used the word "vagina."

I used that word because we were debating a women's health issue. Vagina, by the way, is the correct medical name of a part of women's anatomy lawmakers want to regulate. My statements were within the rules of the House and were clearly appropriate in relation to the bill we were discussing.

One of my counterparts, Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, said "vagina" is such a disturbing word that he would never deign to use it in the presence of women or "mixed company." This, from a man who earned a bachelor's degree in biology.

Isn't that something?

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From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120616/OPINION01/206160313#ixzz1xyaJRyPA