Congressional candidate sends “prevent abortion” condoms to anti-choice group

Count me as an ardent supporter of Arizona congressional candidate James Woods. When the pro-choice Democrat received a survey from the National Pro-Life Alliance asking him to pledge his support for the “sanctity of life,” he send back a box of condoms that read “prevent abortion” along with this letter. 

Anyone wanna take bets on the National Pro-Life Alliance’s position on these policies? As Woods well knows, most anti-choice groups oppose the very things — contraception access, comprehensive sex education — that lead to fewer abortions. In fact, as the we’ve witnessed a remarkable drop in the abortion rate over the last few decades, anti-choice groups have bent over backwards to deny, against all evidence, that the decline has anything at all to do with preventing unintended pregnancies through birth control. It’s almost as if they care less about protecting the “sanctity of life” and more about policing sexuality. But, who knows, maybe the National Pro-Life Alliance will prove me wrong by accepting Woods’ challenge.

For his part, Woods says his “reproductive justice position is part of a progressive Humanist platform that he hopes will motivate other politicians to be open about their Humanist values and identity.” If he wins a tough battle against his Republican opponent, he could become the first openly atheist candidate to be elected to Congress — and a pretty great advocate for reproductive health too.

Maya Dusenbery is an Executive Director of Feministing.