Georgia race and sex selection bill defeated!

Georgia’s race and sex selection bill was defeated when it died in the House Rules Committee on Friday before the end of the legislative session. The bill unfairly targeted abortion providers and would have created barriers to accessing timely abortion care for women of color, so its defeat is an important victory.

In a press release leaders of the fight against the bill point out that divisions among anti-choicers and a large scale action spearheaded by women of color reproductive justice organizations helped in defeating the bill:

After more than three days of attempting to negotiate with the ultra conservative right to life lobby, the Speaker of the House David Ralston, was unable to convince them to support a more reasonable bill. The hard-line Republicans and moderate Republicans could not unite on the bill. This allowed the Democrats to filibuster. Essentially, it was the splintering that caused the bill’s turnaround in lacking unity.

As the three women of color led reproductive justice organizations in Georgia,
SisterSong, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW!, and SisterLove, Inc. are thrilled that
this bill never made it out of the House Rules Committee. After more than three months
of intense lobbying, SisterSong, SPARK, and SisterLove, in coordination with allies,
Feminist Women’s Health Center (GA) and Planned Parenthood Southeast, were able to bombard the Speaker’s office with calls, emails, and faxes highlighting concerns with the bill posed for women of color and our doctors.

Thanks and congratulations to everyone who took action to defeat this legislation!