December 1, 2012

Servicewomen and Abortion

"Abolition of a woman's right to abortion, when and if she wants it, amounts to compulsory maternity:  a form of rape by the State."  ~Edward Abbey

Huh. This is a neat little news article.

The Obama Administration released an official statement yesterday that includes support for abortion access for military survivors of rape. The statement[PDF] calls for changes to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, which details the military's budget, but supports an amendment that would allow military personnel to use their insurance to cover an abortion in cases of rape or incest. The statement also supports access to elective abortions for all servicewoman and military dependents when they use their own funds, including servicewomen overseas. 

Under the amendment, armed servicewomen would be granted the same rights as civilian women under federal policies that provide affordable abortion care to women who are the victims of rape or incest. Under the current policy, servicewomen are only eligible for abortion care if the woman's life is at risk. 

President Obama tends to do these things and doesn't trumpet them much, but I certainly appreciate his efforts. (Of course, it would be great if elective abortions were also covered by military insurance. Someday.)

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