Listening to SB 137 yesterday was honestly very very difficult. I knew I’d find some of the opposition distasteful, but the cruelty went on for a long time. A thread. /1
It is very clear that if the opponents (testifiers and legislators—including SD Right to Life) had their way, they would ban IVF and surrogacy entirely. They would ban the right of our 4 beautiful children to exist at all. /2
If you think I’m sounding radical, please follow the link and listen to the testimony yourself. It is radical. sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/2…
/3
It is just not that hard to recognize that both private industry and government have the capacity to and very often have perpetrated injustice, exploitation, and cruelty. Our democracy should always be a check on both. /1
Dehumanization and bogey tactics are bullshit to get clicks and votes. Bogey being appropriately described as “a mythical malevolent creature that has no specific form and appearance.” But as we have seen this week dabbling in such things is NOT harmless. /2
Question: would a characterization or categorization of someone cause you to see them as less worthy of due process or human dignity? If so, think maybe real hard about it. /3
I’m a partnered mom living near a huge chunk of extended family. I’m worried, anxious, fatigued. I’m not seeing my family to try to get to a place where we can safely spend time together again.
My dad checks many high risk boxes. We lost a child this year and feel that losing him would be too much.
For whatever reason, I feel a need to clearly mark this before I can ever tweet again about politics, policy, food, books, or community. Our daughter—Lenny—was born with a true knot in her cord, and she only lived for 7 days.
There is both so much and so little to say about her short life. She was beautiful and perfect. She touched us all in similar and different ways. She only knew love and comfort while she was here. clausenfuneralhome.com/obituary/lenor…
I cannot believe how much I’ve heard about concern for maternal mortality and infant mortality in the last hour regarding repealing childhood vaccination mandates and banning commercial surrogacy. /1
I know people will tell me I should not be surprised, but I still cannot believe how legislators will visit these issues when they suit them and completely ignore them in all other contexts. /2
We KNOW expanding Medicaid will save women and children’s lives. We KNOW access to prenatal care will save women and children’s live. We KNOW racial bias is a major factor in mother and infant deaths. /3
I find it difficult to sort through all the feelings I have about #sdleg and the absolute flood of cruel bills that have been dropped in the past couple of weeks. /1
One thing is entirely clear: a loud and influential number of legislators have no vision or leadership skills whatsoever to lead SD into the future. /2
They are not running for office to solve the crises of our time: education funding, healthcare coverage and costs, suicide rates, elder care, drug abuse, poverty, growing an economy for the future. No new ideas, no bold vision, no true leadership. /3