Sign our Petition and Stand With Us Against "Personhood!"

Access to safe, legal abortion and even birth control are under attack in Virginia like never before. At at time when Virginians are concerned about jobs, education and transportation, anti-choice politicians in Virginia continue to focus on attacking women's rights and interfering in their personal reproductive decisions.

Sign our petition against "personhood." See more opportunities to take action below.

 

In fact the very first bill filed for this year's Virginia General Assembly session would grant rights to fertilized eggs and could be used to ban safe, legal abortion and attack many common forms of birth control in Virginia.

 

H.B. 1, patroned by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Prince William), would grant "personhood" status and legal rights to fertilized eggs! If this bill looks familiar, it is because voters in Mississippi recently rejected a similar proposal at the polls. But this hasn't stopped Virginia's radical anti-choice politicians from supporting it here.
 

This bill would redefine the term "person" throughout Virginia law and open the door to a range of unpredictable legal consequences, not to mention more government interference in pregnancy and all personal, private reproductive health care decisions.

The ultimate intent and long-term anti-choice strategy behind this bill is clear. H.B. 1 could be used to ban abortion in Virginia -- under any circumstance, including cases of rape, incest or to protect the life and health of a woman -- in the event of the overturning or weakening of Roe v. Wade and women's privacy rights.  It goes so far that anti-choice groups could even use it a method to attack legal access to many common forms of birth control.

 

H.B. 1 and "personhood" for fertilized eggs is part of a nationwide anti-choice strategy to attack women's rights and access to reproductive health care. It's nothing more than an attempt to set the stage for banning safe, legal abortion completely and begin a wave of attacks on birth control. We know the majority of Virginians do not support this extreme measure, and we're working with our allies in Richmond to oppose it.

• Add your voice to those that stand against "personhood!" Sign our petition.
• Contact your state Senator and Governor McDonnell to ask them not to pass this legislation.
• The bill will be heard first in the Senate Education & Health Committee. You can find names and contact information of the senators who sit on this committee here and contact them directly, particularly if one of them is your representative.
  
• Write a letter to your local paper to help get the facts out about this bill. Email us for more details.
  
• Become a part of our Legislative Rapid Response Team.
• Join our Choice Action Network for the latest updates on HB 1 and other legislation."Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for up-to-date information on getting involved.

Read NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia's recent press statements on H.B. 1:
February 14, 2012: Virginia on Path to Being First State with "Personhood” Law
February 10, 2012: "House Committee Advances 'Personhood' Bill Intended to Ban Abortion"
December 22, 2011: Majority of Virginians Oppose "Personhood" Bill
November 21, 2011: Statement Regarding First House Bill Filed for the 2012 Virginia Legislative Session, H.B. 1