(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . This November, I may become your State Representative, but I would never try to become your doctor. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-24 This November, I may become your State Representative, but I would never try to become your doctor. Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision that changed nearly fifty years of women's rights to have autonomy over making decisions about their own bodies. This decision overturned Roe v. Wade, establishing case law that had allowed women to have safe and legal abortions. Now, in Florida, we are seeing the terrible results of this change. Our state has become a place where women live in fear because of one of the toughest abortion laws in the country. In Florida, there's a law that bans most abortions after just six weeks of pregnancy. This is before many women even know they are pregnant. On top of that, women must wait 24 hours after seeing a doctor before they can have an abortion. These rules have taken away the fundamental right of thousands of women to decide what happens to their own bodies. Supporters of this law say there are exceptions for women who were raped or whose lives are in danger. But these exceptions are almost impossible to use. For example, a woman who was raped must provide proof, like a police report, to get an abortion. For women whose lives are in danger or whose babies will not survive after birth, the rules are unclear and hard to follow. Doctors are afraid to help these women because they could be charged with a crime. As a result, some women have been turned away from emergency rooms and have almost died because they could not get the care they needed. This dystopian nightmare is now a reality in Florida. This November, we have a chance to change this. Florida voters can vote on Amendment 4, which would bring back the rights women had before the Supreme Court’s decision. We can also elect leaders who believe that personal medical decisions should be made by individuals and their doctors, not politicians. As a woman, a mother, a local attorney, and a member of our community, I am running for Florida House District 111 because I believe politicians should not be involved in your personal medical decisions. It is time for us to stand up for our freedoms and fight for a future where every woman has the right to make decisions about her own body. In fact, my opponent not only voted for the six-week abortion ban, he proposed a near-total ban that would have defined life at fertilization. This move would not only impact women seeking abortions, but also women who choose to have children through in-vitro fertilization. It would have prevented women from using birth control methods such as the birth control pill, the morning after pill, and intrauterine devices, all of which prevent pregnancy and do not cause abortions. This issue is not about politics; it’s about protecting the rights and dignity of every woman in Florida. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, we can all agree that politicians do not belong in our doctors' offices. This November, let’s vote to restore our rights. Let’s vote to protect our daughters, our sisters, our friends, and ourselves. Let’s vote “Yes” on Amendment 4 and elect representatives who will fight for our personal freedoms. Laura Kelley Democratic Candidate for Florida House District 111 I would be grateful for your support! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/24/2247683/-Two-Years-After-the-Fall-of-Roe-v-Wade-Florida-Votes-on-Politicians-in-Doctor-s-Offices?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/