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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOklahoma Lawmakers Require Businesses to Post Dishonest Anti-Abortion Messages in Oklahoma restrooms
by Dan Savage Dec 13, 2016 at 3:59 pm
I'm old enough to remember when religious conservatives objected to women being harassed in public restrooms:
A new law in Oklahoma requires restaurants, hospitals, public schools, and other buildings to post signs with pro-life language in their restrooms. The law includes additional measures for the purpose of achieving an abortion-free society. Any business or other entity that is regulated by the State Department of Health will have to post the signs. The message on them is to say:
There are many public and private agencies willing and able to help you carry your child to term and assist you and your child after your child is born, whether you choose to keep your child or to place him or her for adoption. The State of Oklahoma strongly urges you to contact them if you are pregnant.
Causing perhaps more controversy than the message itself, is the fact that the businesses themselves will have to pay for it. State lawmakers didnt approve government funding for it, and business owners are estimated to have to spend a total of $2.3 million to put the law into effect.
I'm also old enough to remember when Republicans objected to unfunded mandates and burdensome regulations on small business.
http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2016/12/13/24744955/shitty-oklahoma-lawmakers-require-businesses-to-post-dishonest-anti-abortion-messages-in-oklahoma-shitters