Mae Flexer

Senator Flexer Speaks At Pro-Choice Rally In Support Of Women’s Reproductive Rights

HARTFORD, CT – On Tuesday, May 21, Senator Mae Flexer spoke at the “Stop the Bans,” rally in front of the Capitol in support of women’s reproductive rights. The event was hosted by the Connecticut Coalition for Choice and was one of hundreds of rallies across the country held in response to the recent passage of abortion bans in numerous states.

“It is a women’s right and her right alone to decide what she does with her body,” said Senator Flexer. “I’m proud to see that there is strong bipartisan support for women’s reproductive rights here in Connecticut. However, I wish after all these years of Roe v. Wade being settled law that we didn’t have to stand here and still fight this fight.”

Last week, the Alabama state legislature signed the most aggressive anti-abortion law in recent American history. The law permits abortions only if the mother’s life is at risk or if the fetus cannot survive. It prohibits abortion in the cases of rape or incest. Other states including Missouri, Ohio, and Georgia have moved to restrict access to abortion by pushing “heartbeat” bills. These bills would ban abortion as soon as a physician is able to detect a heartbeat. A fetus’s heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks, but this is often before most women become aware they are pregnant.
None of these laws have gone into effect yet.

“The recent abortion bans in Alabama, Missouri, Ohio, and Georgia are not only unconstitutional, but they threaten the health and safety of women living in those states,” said Senator Flexer. “This is unacceptable. Abortion is healthcare and healthcare is a human right. We need to continue to speak out and stand in solidarity with women across the country who are seeing their rights infringed upon. It’s also critical that the legislature in Connecticut continue to defend and protect women’s healthcare and women’s rights.”