John xxxxxx, discrimination is now legal in at least one American state.

A 35-year-old woman in Tennessee was denied prenatal care by her physician because she was “unwed.” According to the Nashville Banner, a physician turned her away because they “didn't feel comfortable treating her” and cited “differing values.”

Although this type of discrimination is illegal across most of America, Tennessee recently passed the Medical Ethics Defense Act. This law grants medical professionals the right to deny healthcare to patients based on their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. There are no protections for people in rural areas with limited options for healthcare, there are no requirements to refer patients elsewhere, and there’s no legal recourse.

83% of the lawmakers in Tennessee are male.

We are horrified by this story. We will not sit back as male politicians pass laws that limit women’s bodily autonomy, healthcare, and safety.

We cannot accept this reality for our fellow women. We’re working to elect PRO-WOMEN women – especially in red states like Tennessee. Help support our candidates by donating $25 today.

This is the first reported case of a woman being denied prenatal care for being unmarried in the state of Tennessee – but it will likely continue to happen more frequently.

The states with the least amount of women in state government almost all have abortion bans and other laws that limit women’s access to healthcare. Tennessee is one of those states. While 3.5 million women live in Tennessee, women make up only 17% of the state’s government.

The legislator who sponsored this bill, Representative Bryan Terry, said he believed the law would help Tennessee recruit and retain physicians (???!!). In reality, the state has actually seen a decline in OB-GYNs across the state since Tennessee’s total abortion ban went into effect. Tennessee has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country and ranks among the worst for infant mortality.

At Her Bold Move, we believe this is a solvable problem. We’re working to chip away at the male supermajorities in state governments across America by electing more women to the halls of power. We believe women lawmakers will be our best defense against dangerous and sexist policies. Rush $25 to support our work and help us elect more women ASAP.

For ALL women,

Ileana Paules Bronet
Her Bold Move