Uncategorized

FL Bill Proposes to Ban Abortion On Basis of Sex, Race

Florida Representative Scott Plakon (R) introduced a bill, called the Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity for Life Act, to prohibit women from seeking abortions “based on sex or race of child or race of parent of that child.” The bill also specifies that abortion providers who perform an abortion on the basis of race or sex could be criminally charged.

Loretta Ross, President of SisterSong indicated that such a bill is a “blatant attempt for southern Republicans to look like they are champions of racial justice” as they attempt to restrict women’s rights to abortion. She went on to say that the bill “shows contempt for women.”

Plakon nevertheless indicated that the bill, if passed into law, would be difficult to enforce. He stated that if the woman indicates that her decision to have an abortion is motivated by reasons of race or sex “it would put the burden on the abortionist to not provide the abortion.”

The Florida Independent 1/9/12; National Partnership for Women and Families 1/10/11

Support eh ERA banner