The Vaginagate roundup
In case you were wondering why all your friends were using the word “vagina” in their Facebook status updates over the weekend, late last week two representatives (both women) were banned from speaking in the Michigan House during a debate over a bill that bans all abortions after 20 weeks, with no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the mother. The Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas hasn’t specified exactly what offended him, but one of the representatives, Democrat Lisa Brown, claims it’s because she used the word vagina. “Apparently, ‘vagina’ is another v-word that Must Not Be Named. Like Voldemort,” Brown told Jezebel.com. Here’s a (very abridged!) sampling of Vaginagate coverage:
- Here’s a pretty good summary of what went down, if you need a catch-up.
- Jezebel brings you 25 Republican-approved ways to say “vagina” without offending political pussies.
- Rep. Lisa Brown is going to perform The Vagina Monologues with Eve Ensler on the state Capitol steps.
- Brown explains her position in the Guardian newspaper, seeing as she’s no longer allowed to do so in her own House.
- The inevitable (but still hilarious) Twitter hashtag: #vaginamovielines
- An open letter to Michigan House Republicans.
- Though it appeared initially that the two women were banned from speaking in the House indefinitely (!!!), the Speaker’s office now says it was just for the day. Oh, that makes it okay then.
- Sunday sermon: Would Jesus have said “vagina”?
- The ACLU wants you tell Michigan politicians to defend women’s reproductive health.
- Why Republicans punishing a rep for saying “vagina” matters.
- What if Brown had said “uterus” instead of “vagina”?
- Why vaginas aren’t dirty, even in Michigan.
