If you haven't already heard by now, earlier this week Georgia passed a bill that makes it illegal for a woman to have an abortion once a fetal heartbeat has been detected.
A large sector of the internet is disgusted with the passing of the anti-abortion bill. Denying women the incredibly important choice whether or not to have a baby means that the southeastern US state has taken one-thousand steps back in terms of progression. The government is being sued left right and center, protests are taking place across the country and people all over the world are speaking out after the horror of the news.
Jason Bateman is not the only big name to have a strong reaction against the bill, Rihanna had one of the strongest reaction with her post going massively viral. Read on to see her reaction, Bateman's and what it means for women in Georgia.
On May 7th, Brian Kemp, the Governor of Georgia signed the anti-abortion "heartbeat bill".
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According to Huffpost, Kemp’s signature overrides the old state law that allows abortion up until twenty weeks and, as a consequence of the bill, Georgia is now one of the most restrictive states in America when it comes to abortion.The law makes it illegal to have an abortion when doctors can detect a fetal heartbeat.
SHAME ON GEORGIA GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP. https://t.co/HHC01iVorX— Planned Parenthood Action (@Planned Parenthood Action)1557240045.0
Kemp believes that the bill is doing important work.
BREAKING: Gov. Kemp just signed this near total ban on abortion. We’ve said it before and we'll say it again — we w… https://t.co/xeOEBqSnW2— ACLU (@ACLU)1557239387.0
Of course, many people disagree with Kemp's stance.
"Wait, what? Easy? It's never an easy decision," Twitter-user, Shannon Reno says. "No woman wakes up and thinks, 'Today is a great day for an abortion!' However, she CAN (and should always be able to...)"Celebrities like Reese Witherspoon are speaking out against the bill as well.
I’m beyond upset about the passing of new abortion bans in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Ohio. This… https://t.co/0GLpAQVRik— Reese Witherspoon (@Reese Witherspoon)1557955870.0
It wasn't only women who spoke out against the bill.
Former One Direction-er and current British pop sensation Liam Payne explained his stance, stating "I have so much respect for women. Watching someone go through pregnancy and how tough it can be at times, and us as men never have to go through that, so how can we even comment or decide what women should or shouldn’t go through?"Payne speaks from experience, having watched his girlfriend Cheryl Cole go through pregnancy and childbirth.
We love seeing men add their voices to this cause!Even our favorite Friend, Courteney Cox, spoke up...
Cox is an Alabama native. She voiced her horror at what's currently going on in her home state.Now, the HuffPost is reporting that the Center for Reproductive Rights has pledged to sue the state of Alabama.
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The group’s chief counsel, Elisabeth Smith, deemed the law “bafflingly unconstitutional."Planned Parenthood is also planning to sue.
Georgia’s governor just signed the six-week abortion ban. We have one message for Governor Kemp: We’ll see you in c… https://t.co/0YMmJzGERq— Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates (@Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates)1557244456.0
Planned Parenthood won't cease their mission.
The people of this state stood up and spoke out against this draconian legislation and our lawmakers chose not to l… https://t.co/w0FPGnUJXK— Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates (@Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates)1557244458.0
In March, Kemp claimed that "there will no doubt be a legal battle" if the bill passed.
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"And we’re ready for a fight," the governor added. Kemp told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he has "no ill will" for the people who will oppose the bill; "I understand it," he said. “But this is about protecting life, and we’re willing to fight for it."Jen Jordan, Georgia State Senator, has said that it isn’t about abortion, it's about women’s fundamental rights.
Later today, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is poised to sign the nation’s sixth six-week abortion ban into law despite ma… https://t.co/LKM7auldFr— Planned Parenthood Action (@Planned Parenthood Action)1557238659.0
The problem isn't just in Georgia.
"Heartbeat abortion" bans have been signed into law in Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Ohio this year. Lawmakers… https://t.co/nFlpUdIjxN— NBC News (@NBC News)1557530853.0
These headlines have caused a huge stir.
Ok. Get this. What about... and just hear me out... a #heartbeatbill allowing any woman with a heartbeat the right… https://t.co/SnKpphj83G— Kate Headley (@Kate Headley)1558005394.0
Let's look at some of the viewpoints that are being put out there.
Brian Kemp of Georgia signs in the #HeartBeatBill. Praise God! Beautiful work Georgia. Don’t let those Hollywood b… https://t.co/fwlOG0zMQh— Pastor Greg Locke (@Pastor Greg Locke)1557242835.0
Some seem to believe that the heartbeat bill is the "lesser of two evils."
Is denying women the choice to go forth with, or to terminate, their pregnancy "better" than late-term abortion?Is there a better solution?
Maybe abortion isn't ideal, but right now, it's the only choice that women have if they don't want to move forward in their pregnancy - or the choice that they haven't got in this case.Really, it isn't about whether you're pro-life or not.
Let's be fucking real here: the Heartbeat bill isn't "Anti-Abortion." It's Anti-Choice, Anti-Safety, and most impor… https://t.co/rlN1bbTcyQ— Ravndarke/Brad (@Ravndarke/Brad)1558070292.0
That's what's got so many people riled up.
Imagine you miscarry but people don’t believe you or you have enemies who contact authorities to say you terminated… https://t.co/c2dPdUh65v— Pieke (@Pieke)1557591551.0
Women are being affected by this and they had virtually no say whether or not the bill was passed.
The Washington Post has revealed that "for every woman voting for new abortion bans in Missouri, Georgia and Alabama, seven men did".What if a woman is forced to give birth and can't sustain a good life for that child?
I had a termination at 22 weeks because our doctors confirmed our baby’s quality of life wouldn’t be possible, if h… https://t.co/f2QvNaBHfa— Melinda (the S is silent but deadly) Szatela (@Melinda (the S is silent but deadly) Szatela)1557540974.0
Rape is an issue that many are bringing up.
As a victim of #sexualabuse, the fact that #Georgia would allow rape victims to carry a pregnancy is disgusting. Al… https://t.co/UccJEvN4PI— Tess (@Tess)1557464067.0
Some are saying that the new bills protect rapists over women.
How states like Alabama protect rapists over women and girls https://t.co/zohBnF3yuF https://t.co/CpGhwUOSJm— Rolling Stone (@Rolling Stone)1557953765.0
Some people have pointed out this similarity.
For fuck's sake, The Handmaid's Tale was supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual.— Denizcan James (@Denizcan James)1558039615.0
Some other big names are now weighing in on the issue.
The Good Place actress, model, presenter and activist, Jameela Jamil has spoken about her personal experience and why she thinks that the bills being passed are wrong.Jamil said that the new laws are "blatantly demonstrative of a hatred of women".
It's "essentially a punishment for rape victims, forcing to carry the baby of their rapist," she continued.Jamil continued her thread:
She explained that she had an abortion at a young age and that she had no regrets. She claimed that she wasn't ready for a baby and that it would have been unfair for a child to be brought up when the conditions just weren't right.On her talk show, actress, Busy Phillips, shared her experience as a teenager.
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Her story is heart-wrenching, but, sadly, it's similar to so many others'."I had an abortion when I was 15 years old," she said. "I’m telling you this because I’m genuinely really scared for women and girls all over this country."
Last night on her talk show @BusyPhilipps responded to Georgia's abortion ban bill by telling her story: "I had an… https://t.co/yc7hD5hA05— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@Yashar Ali 🐘)1557330858.0
"1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth," Phillips tweeted.
And, now, Jason Bateman has spoken out.
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The star, best known for his roles in Arrested Development and Ozark, is standing up for women's rights.Ozark and the HBO show, The Outsiders, which Bateman executive produces, are currently being filmed in Georgia.
“If the ‘heartbeat bill’ makes it through the court system, I will not work in Georgia, or any other state, that is so disgracefully at odds with women’s rights," Bateman told The Hollywood Reporter.If this trend continues, Georgia will be hit pretty hard.
"If the 'heartbeat bill' makes it through the court system, I will not work in Georgia, or any other state, that is… https://t.co/q3EA1diIcM— The Hollywood Reporter (@The Hollywood Reporter)1558084445.0
Shows and movies such as Netflix’s Stranger Things, AMC’s The Walking Dead and Marvel’s Avengers series have been filmed there.
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Hopefully, if nothing else, this will make a change to the bills that have been passed; they deny women an important choice and something needs to be done.