Texas Forced Sonogram Law Is A Form Of State-Mandated Rape—Texas Progressive Alliance Round-Up

At the end of this post you will find the weekly posting of the  Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The TPA is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas. TPA members are citizen-bloggers working for a better Texas.

With the round-up this week is a link to a recent column by Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times.  In this column, Mr. Kristof writes about the forced sonogram law here in Texas.

From Mr. Kristof-—

“Here’s what a woman in Texas now faces if she seeks an abortion.  Under a new law that took effect three weeks ago with the strong backing of Gov. Rick Perry, she first must typically endure an ultrasound probe inserted into her vagina. Then she listens to the audio thumping of the fetal heartbeat and watches the fetus on an ultrasound screen. She must listen to a doctor explain the body parts and internal organs of the fetus as they’re shown on the monitor. She signs a document saying that she understands all this, and it is placed in her medical files. Finally, she goes home and must wait 24 hours before returning to get the abortion. “It’s state-sanctioned abuse,” said Dr. Curtis Boyd, a Texas physician who provides abortions. “It borders on a definition of rape. Many states describe rape as putting any object into an orifice against a person’s will. Well, that’s what this is. A woman is coerced to do this, just as I’m coerced.”

We need to be clear about the fact that the Texas forced sonogram law is a form of state-mandated rape.  Governor Perry and the Texas legislature enacted this law in good part because they had the power to do so.

I’m going to be writing much more about this issue in the days and weeks ahead. I encourage all Texans to do what they can to draw attention to the forced sonogram bill, and to help change the social and political climate in Texas to where this law can at some point be repealed and to where we can start to treat every Texan with respect.

Don’t forget—Every Texan and every American has the ability to attend a public meeting, attend or organize a protest, write or call an elected official, talk to friends and family, start a blog, donate money, write a letter to the editor, volunteer for candidates and causes, engage in acts of civil disobedience, and to run for public office.

The work of freedom is up to each of us.

Here is the round-up–

Off the Kuff connects the Republican war on women’s health to the 2012 legislative elections in Texas.
BossKitty at TruthHugger has decided that the Devil is in the words spewing from the mouth of GOP wannabe Rick Santorum, who says that “suffering is good”.

BlueBloggin thinks that Planet of the Apes escapee Rush “Rusty” Hudson Limbaugh III should be handed over to the Amazon Women on the Moon and hits him below the belt.

The truce in the redistricting skirmishes last week produced lots of controversial results, and also one which cheered the hearts of non-Democrats and Republicans relating to third-party and independent candidates. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has elaboration.

Let there be no doubt; the health care system in Texas is a mess. WCNews at Eye On Williamson has the details in this post: By almost any measure, Texas has one of the worst health care systems in the nation.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes another Texas university raises tuition and the Santorum Republicans smile. Why not? Only the rich should go to college in GOPland.

Neil at Texas Liberal was in Cincinnati this week. Neil’s blog has a number of photos and observations from his trip.