Thread by @KaylaQFrawley

Okay, listening into the #RHEA the Reproductive Health Equity Act testimony, and listening to folks that haven’t given birth or could have opinions about #reproductivehealth is just always disappointing and unnecessary.

https://twitter.com/mayravaldez_/status/1501737207769407488

This guy on this panel basically said “why does birth need to constitute a human right”, um, sir, what in the what? LIVING HUMANS don’t have human rights yet.

All this commentary coming to you is really actually inspired by @Justa_Jus ‘s incredible commentary 🤣

Not sure who the woman on this panel at 7:08 is saying ‘as a society we have decided murder is wrong’ when asked a question by a committee member. Except, as a society - we don’t believe that murdering certain ppl are wrong. The irony in pro life rhetoric is so sick.

Next testifying - Dr. Giles, Boulder county resident. She prays at the womens clinic in Boulder, she says abortion isn’t safe 🥲 she has seen 20 people come into an abortion within a 2 hour time period (sounds good and normal from a formal clinician!)

With all due respect doctors who say abortion isn’t safe need to go back to school.

I mean, and get their licenses taken away.

She some relevance to the Ukraine but it was so out of left field I don’t even know what she meant.

Wendy Smith - is representing women and girls who are being sexually trafficked. I wonder how trafficked folks feel about this. Trafficking is a huge enterprise. She says #abortionbill is more readily available.. (thank god!)

Traffickers have had multiple abortions Wendy says - she is in opposition of #HB221279 the #rhea bill. Wendy is very distracted by the legislators chatting in the background.

Reminder: the #RHEA Reproductive Health Equity Act will establish that every individual has the right to contraception, continue a pregnancy, give birth and or get an abortion. This is about #reproductivehealth yall

Missed last testimony cause my chosen child and I are painting. Thank god I was able to get that #abortion years ago.

Another mother is testifying in opposition of this bill - she is saying that women have the highest honor to be pregnant…. What sucks is that our country doesn’t honor us cause there is no real infrastructure for working families. Oh. The irony. #RHEA

Committee member is worried about the possibility of the trafficked folks being forced to have abortions… why aren’t we more concerned about those humans, and preventing trafficking? This seem like a strange prolife rhetoric - that to stop abortion we somehow aid trafficking -

Wendy Smith is going to town in this tired argument that some how pro life people believe that limiting reproductive health is helping to prevent #humantrafficking - this argument is wild and so far from realty.

I love hearing the babies in the back! Yes! #reproductivehealth #reproductivejustice #copolitics

Ms. Nickles - testifying against this bill. Shes talking about a woman who was going through a miscarriage when she was an EMT student. Some how this is relevant? #reproductivejustice

Op. That was it. I think you missed the mark Ms. Nickles.

Next witness is from Ukraine. She is opposing this bill and speaking to the lord.

I really want your community to have access to reproductive healthcare friend. That’s why we actually need #rhea #reproductivejustice #hb22-1279

She sang…

Man, a war is not a reason to speak down on #reproductivehealth and in fact, it should make us believe that we need reproductive Justice even more. #hb221279 #copolitics

A nurse is testifying next. She makes a good point - we are all trying to show up for women.

But then she loses me. Cause she speaks about how cant know the preciousness of every child.

We can. Yet, in our racist society - we don’t. This rhetoric is tired. #reproductivehealth

Reminder: #RHEA is about making sure all Coloradans have access to reproductive health, contraception, give birth, continue a pregnancy and get an abortion. This is #reproductivejustice

Don’t worry Twitter! The majority of Coloradans want #AbortionRights to stay as #essential health care. Cause. It. Is. Essential health care. #copolitics

I am noticing that the pro life folks are not great with timing in their testimony. They all go over time, and are unprepared. There must be a metaphor here. #copolitics

Asked by member on committee “what will be the most important change that will happen with this bill?” - I actually can’t understand the medical students answer - she’s saying that if we pass this bill there will more infanticide. What? #copolitics

This lack of shared definitions really makes live tweeting hard.

#copolitics

Uff that last testifyer was hard to listen to. He was in opposed. Called us all children killers, called us opresores, that we are on the wrong side of history.

I am thinking of my colleagues and friends who are experiencing trauma just listening to this sick shit. #copolitics

This practitioner is talking about #abortion survivors - they are saying that fetuses can survived D n Cs, or saline abortion, and or suction abortion. This is fake science ya’ll. #AbortionIsEssential #rhea

Sounds like the best testifyer is revisiting a sad story about her abortion. She said it isn’t a blob of tissue, it was her baby. She talks about being suicidal, depression and guilt.

Oh friend, I’m so so sorry. We need more perinatal supports for those seeking abortions.

She’s talking about regret. I get it. Speak your trauma. But, you weren’t supported cause we don’t have the infrastructure to support #reproductivehealth yet. That’s why we need the #rhea bill #hb221279

This testifyer said ‘what is a abortion’? And answers ‘a violent murder, suction, this is not #reproductivehealthcare ‘ - but actually #hb221279 is about #reproductivehealthcare

The wild stuff these folks say.

Next testify is not addressing the committee members - she is talking directly to god.

#AbortionIsEssential #AbortionIsHealthcare #AbortionJustice #reproductivehealth #reproductivejustice

Our gods know these hashtags to be true lady. #copolitics

Again, a reference to war being connected to why we need to restrict abortion.

What. Is. The. Logic. #AbortionIsEssential #copolitics

Pro lifers go over testimony time, and, don’t seem to know any medical definitions, and, only are able to sound emotionally compelling. #copolitics

Committee member asks what the culture of the conversation about abortion is in the Latino community.

How about we start with @colorlatina leading this bill.

Women of color are the grandmothers of #reproductivejustice

This woman addressing this unfortunately does not agree

Not having access to #reproductivehealth is a oppressive tactic used in communities of color. #rhea

Next testifyer calls this bill the “most callus to the unborn”

She points out - does the state have rights to deny human rights to humans?

She says this bill promotes violence against women.

Now she’s talking about #domesticviolence

#reproductivehealth is necessary - specially for victims of #domesticviolence

This testifyer is basically saying that if a women is abused and ran over by a car by her abuser - that the baby should be able to saved.

So it can be raised by an abuser? I’m lost on the logic.

What even is ‘Save the Storks’?

I’d love to know how much housing they get families, how much diapers they provide, how much child care they pay for and what other supports they actually offer.

We know trick clinics and orgs like this are not for families.

Reminder: #Rhea led by @colorlatina @CobaltAdvocates the #reproductive health equity act will codify 1) contraception, 2) continue a pregnancy, 3) give birth and 4) get an abortion. This is #reproductivehealth this is #reproductivejustice

Oh a Jefferson county resident called the #democrats bored.

It’s cause we’re tired of these dry rhetorics that restricting reproductive rights is a good idea.

He sits on the board of sex Ed in Jefferson county? Look out for this guy folks.

#copolitics

Lauren Castillo from students of life for action. She’s opposed to #reproductivejustice

She’s breaking up and probably not making sense. I’m trying to follow.

Oh she says that American people oppose abortion, so she doesn’t read polls or data.

She’s speaking about keeping her pregnancies and how did it and got two degrees.

That’s great - the #rhea bill will support you and would of supported your decisions.

Cause that is #reproductivejustice

Got it?
#copolitics

Committee members asks about legal issues this bill would bring up,

I literally can’t understand any comprehensible answer she is giving.

People will sue? About what?

Very tired answer. #copolitics #AbortionIsEssential

“Can statute remove someone’s rights?” Is another question.

This bill codifies your rights committee member. Like, on both sides, you have a right to either choice.

Have committee members read the #rhea bill?!?! #hb221279 #AbortionIsHealthcare

Next person is talking about how his wife had preeclampsia (so sorry), fetus was 27 weeks, spent 94 days in the NICU, spent a million $ to save this life.

#rhea and #hb221279 will codify your right sir. This bill supports that choice and your family. #reproductivehealthcare

Putting kiddo down. Returning in a bit.

Once again, somehow Pro-life folks are connecting war, nazis, and op - the Holocaust. This testifyer is going in on how the Holocaust is similar to abortion.

She is saying horrid things about how people that have had abortions should feel - "shameful, horrid".

Gross.

Next is a Coloradan, who learned about contraception in a High School in Colorado. She says that many women need counseling after abortion (I agree), and "only people that experience trauma should go therapy" (I agree - we should all go to therapy 😅.

testifier says a recent study by the Demitri institute youth are in favor of limits on abortion & to give the option to the voters in Colorado to choose this type of legislation.

We'd love to - cause Coloradans believe #AbortionIsEssential and our polls show for it #copolitics

"if this bill were to pass - what would be the biggest changes you would see?" - From Rep Bradfield.

Answer: "unborn children don't have rights"

This testifier is struggling to answer

This answer made no sense. wow.

Testifier said that babies born prematurely wouldn't have rights.

Posposterous. Just read the bill. #AbortionIsEssential #copolitics

There are so many testimonies really talking about loving their children, to say 'this is why you shouldn't have an abortion'.

We all love our children.

That's not it. #AbortionIsHealthcare and #reproductivehealth include birth and abortion and miscarriage.

Next testifier "how is a person that performs an abortion not different then a serial killer"

"Sorry ladies - you're not better then the psycho murders, in fact you are even worse cause you shed blood"

#AbortionIsEssential

I promise anyone who has had #reproductivehealthcare in their life is low key traumatized by so many testifiers right now at #coleg for #rhea

Next testified "we are all former-fetuses and should remember our roots"

:/ #copolitics

New testifier: trying to make the case for talking about the lack of mental health services after an abortion as a reason to restrict #reproductivehealthcare.

there is just a lack of mental health services in CO. we are nationally famous for that.

That's it.
#copolitics

Next Testifier says:

"This isn't about equity - if we allow more of this - they will keep killing more of their babies"

in reference to the Black community.

Wow. #copolitics #rhea

This next testifier, in opposition to #rhea at #coleg starts off with:

"unwanted pregnancy is a problem"
😅

That is why we want #reproductivehealth
I can not make this up.

"abortion should be available after rape!? WHY?"

Ya'll.
#copolitics

Taking a break from this stuff.

Please send love to those in person, and online - listening to this. It is traumatizing to listen to.

#AbortionIsEssential #AbortionIsHealthcare #reproductivehealth

@threadreaderapp unroll please