Legislators behind Michigan's "Anti-Coercion" bills claim to be "protecting" women from being coerced into having abortion. But no such protection exists from coercing a woman into continuing an unwanted pregnancy; in fact, the state itself engages in such coercion by attempting to discourage abortion. All this so-called "protection" aims to do is create further barriers to abortion access.

HB 4799, HB 4798, HB 5134, and HB 5181 are aimed at making it illegal to coerce a woman into having an abortion. Certainly, no one wants to see women make any reproductive decision as a result of coercion. But this legislation--specifically targeting the act of pressuring women to have an abortion, while enacting no such prohibition on pressuring women into any other reproductive choice--is clearly aimed at creating more barriers surrounding abortion. In fact, HB 5134 would instate a mandatory "oral screening" process for all women seeking abortions, in order to discover potential coercion. In cases where coercion was suspected, women would be forced to wait an additional 24 hours before obtaining an abortion.

It is extremely hypocritical for anyone who seeks to restrict women's access to abortion to claim to be acting on a "pro-woman" agenda. We see through this rhetoric, and we are not fooled by any claim that this bill is about offering women "protection." Opposing coercion of women means opposing ALL varieties of coercion, not just one that suits an anti-choice agenda.

As of 3/1/11, this legislation is on its second reading in the House Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors, where it is likely to pass out favorably to the Committee of the Whole. We must act now to express our objection to our Senators and Representatives.

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2011/08/15/michigan-bill-reveals-antichoicers-hate-coercion-unless-they-coercers​

http://wearewomenmi.blogspot.com/