DoD barred from abortion coverage by Federal Statute.

[EFerrari]

Sep 22nd, 2011
Posted by Amanda Simon, ACLU at 12:43pm

File this under "genius at work".

ACLU Lens: Chicago Sun-Times Weighs in on Indefensible Military Abortion Policy

The Chicago Sun-Times today has a terrific editorial on a thoroughly unfair military policy regarding servicewomen who are the victims of rape.

As it stands now, the military provides health insurance for members of the Armed Forces and their families but, by federal statute, the Department of Defense is barred from providing coverage for abortion care except where a pregnant woman's life is endangered. Despite the fact that other federal bans on abortion coverage provide an exception for cases of rape and incest, the military does not.

Currently, there are more than 400,000 women serving our country in our Armed Forces. Each one of them faces a disturbingly higher rate than their civilian counterparts that they will be sexual assaulted. Denying them the same medical care that is available to the civilians they protect is shameful.

The Sun-Times says:

It's time to reverse this absurd policy and, at a minimum, give servicewomen the same rights as any other woman covered by the federal government. That's why we're enthusiastically backing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would allow for a rape and incest exception. The amendment is expected to be offered in the U.S. Senate soon. We urge Illinois' two senators to support this basic act of fairness.



http://www.aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/aclu-lens-chicago-sun-times-weighs-indefensible-military-abortion-policy

[Jefferson23]

1. That is truly a pathetic move. K&R n/t

[Starry Messenger]

2. k&r

[indepat]

3. Freakin'ly depraved RW cockamamie ideology passed into law: so shameful

as to be beyond the reason and comprehension of any adult in the house. :patriot:

[EFerrari]

4. Yeah -- let's pass a law that forbids the biggest employer of

women in their childbearing years from covering abortion. :wtf:

[femrap]

6. I hate patriarchy....

men keep their gonads and women pay the price of their cruelty.

[femrap]

5. It saddens me to see women

joining the military....an institution that ABSOLUTELY HATES THEM.