Florida 24 hour delay on abortion described as attack on rights, ‘anti-choice’ by LGBTQ group
The 24 hour waiting period for an abortion was signed into law by Florida Governor Rick Scott and pro-abortion supporters are detailing their objections and how this is an attack on their “constitutional rights.”
“Governor Rick Scott has signed into law an anti-choice bill (SB 724) that is designed to delay and deny people’s access to abortion services,” begins the message from The Task Force Action Fund.
“By signing SB 724, Governor Rick Scott is attempting to roll back time and constitutional rights for millions of women in Florida. Abortion access is a matter of human rights and with young queer and bisexual women experiencing higher rates of unintended pregnancy than the overall population — it’s an extremely important LGBTQ health issue too. Now people who need access to safe abortions in Florida will have to make multiple, medically unnecessary appointments in order to comply with a mandatory 24-hour delay. That means an added trip to the clinic, along with added childcare and transportation costs and more time off work — all because some self-serving politicians want to impose their beliefs and prejudices on other people. It’s time for lawmakers to stop trying to control our lives, our rights and our heath care choices,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.
Forsaken: Women from Tauton Talk about Abortion Photo/Amazon
Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora, who sponsored the waiting period bill in the House, defended the new law as helping women.
“The purpose of this bill is to empower women to make an informed decision, versus a pressured, rushed, unexpected one,” she said. “This isn’t changing access; it’s not shutting down clinics.”
Sullivan said she thinks the waiting period is important to prevent women being persuaded into having the procedure.
Women will not be required to wait 24 hours for an abortion if they can show a police report, court order or medical report proving the pregnancy came as a result of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking.
