Republican lawmakers in Tennessee introduced a bill this week that would add a rape exception to the state’s near-total abortion ban, with the caveat that those who “lie” about being raped to access abortion care, could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
Who would stake three years of their life on the statistically low chance of being believed and supported by law enforcement?
Fewer than 1 percent of rapes lead to felony convictions.
This law It’s just another round of violation of their autonomy within the health care system, within a police and judicial system that routinely hurts survivors.
Abortion is the most critical way to protect victims, help them out of an unsafe situation, not prolong their connection to someone who’s assaulted them.
By threatening survivors seeking abortion care, Tennessee’s bill builds on existing, systemic issues: assault survivors are often threatened with criminalization, sometimes upon reporting their assailant, and face jarringly high rates of incarceration.
And criminal charges for pregnancy outcomes, including abortion, often implicate victims of violence
Protecting survivors means no abortion bans at all. Not just exceptions that don’t work.
If you are a rape victim, be strong and always remember two things:
1. Not every law is legal.
2. Not every law breaking is illegal.
3. In a democracy, Justice is always above the law.
4. And your body, is only yours.
Be strong, and just do whatever it takes, to protect yourself from being raped again, this time - by law makers.