The topic of abortion is a sensitive and extremely divisive one. It's an issue that sparks protests from both pro-life and pro-choice activists and remains a hugely relevant and debated issue.
But last year, the world was left more divided than ever following the introduction of a controversial anti-abortion law, dubbed the "heartbeat bill" across several states.
Tensions are rising once again. Keep scrolling for the full story...
On May 7th 2019, Brian Kemp, the Governor of Georgia, signed the anti-abortion "heartbeat bill".
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According to Huffpost, Kemp’s signature overrode 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 made 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 believed 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 spoke out against the bill.
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
And women aren't the only ones 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 the bill being passed in her home state.Some other big names weighed in on the issue.
The Good Place actress, model, presenter and activist, Jameela Jamil spoke 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.Shortly after the passage of the bill, HuffPost reported that the Center for Reproductive Rights 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 also had plans 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
Back in March last year, 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
And 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 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
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.
The bill was meant to go into effect back in November.
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But, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson temporarily blocked the legislation, so it's important to note that the legislation isn't currently in effect.But it seems the controversial bill is back in the headlines once again this week.
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Although this time, it's one lawmaker's reaction to the anti-abortion bill that's got everyone talking.Rep. Rolanda Hollis proposed a new bill in response to the so-called "heartbeat bill."
The legislation would require all men to get a vasectomy at the age of fifty in a bid to reduce unwanted pregnancies.That's not all she's proposing...
As per HuffPost, under the law, men would be required to get vasectomies within a month of turning fifty, or after their third child is born, whichever comes about first.Men would also be required to pay for the vasectomy themselves.
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But there's a deeper meaning behind the bill.It has been created as a direct response to the anti-abortion bill introduced last year.
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The Democratic state legislator said men "should not be legislating what women do with their bodies," and so, she has proposed this new bill to show how ridiculous it is to have laws controlling what people do with their own bodies.
Rep. Hollis has been clear that the bill is "symbolic."
@MichaelLHoffman Vasectomy Bill HB 238 The Vasectomy bill is to help with the reproductive system. This is to neut… https://t.co/osRZUGZyt2— Rep. Rolanda Hollis (@Rep. Rolanda Hollis)1581641136.0
Hollis herself believes it's outrageous to have any law governing people's bodies - no matter their gender.
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But her aim is to "neutralize last year’s abortion ban bill, and sends the message that men should not be legislating what women do with their bodies."As you'd expect, reactions have been strong.
@RepHollis @MichaelLHoffman They don't like it now that the shoe is on the other foot. Lmao. Keep up the good work. ♡— 🦠💉🧼😷 (@🦠💉🧼😷)1581857897.0
Many were quick to support Hollis.
@RepHollis @MichaelLHoffman This is awesome. The replies are hilarious especially from the white men that view wom… https://t.co/IcGwMVC1fA— Carla Vivarttas (@Carla Vivarttas)1581779139.0
Others hailed the move as "genius."
@RepHollis @MichaelLHoffman This is Genius! Men are so used to restricting women's rights that it comes as a second… https://t.co/vUfPxJMcmG— Zaharia Adrian (@Zaharia Adrian)1581669512.0
However, backlash soon followed.
@RepHollis @MichaelLHoffman We are not a communist country! After 3 kids? Really? What if they want 10? This is Ame… https://t.co/xlTV1rC3rm— JustGottaSayIt (@JustGottaSayIt)1581675771.0
She was even branded as "crazy" by one user.
@RepHollis @MichaelLHoffman Is this chick out of her mind? Yeah, Ok crazy lady 😂😂😂— Logan OnAir (@Logan OnAir)1581780234.0
Many were taking her announcement very seriously.
@RepHollis @MichaelLHoffman This is idiotic on a whole other level. Zero chance this passes. I'm ashamed tax dolla… https://t.co/17ayEcDKKi— Jon #ChokeOnYourMask 🇺🇲 (@Jon #ChokeOnYourMask 🇺🇲)1581860512.0
Others called her out for being a fame chaser.
@RepHollis @MichaelLHoffman She is just trying to get her 15 minutes of fame! Really, VOTE HER OUT— just saying (@just saying)1581945393.0