Parental consent and the Texas shuffle

Texas Finalizes Parental Consent Form; Includes Notarization Requirement.

A round of applause for TX? Hardly. After years of debating various restrictions pro life folk dream up to restrict the right to choose, it's no surprise they are going for the ankles... they can't reach any higher on the issue of choice.

For me, it's simple. Choicers are just that. We aren't imposing a solution, a choice, etc on anyone - each and every woman makes her choice based on her own personal outlook. Yet we are hung in effigy, decried as murderers, and sinners of the worst order. Um, have I advocated someone abort? Only if someone asked my opinion, and in fact, have been asked precisely twice.

When my opinion is given, it does not come with judgement if another alternative is followed. It does come with exploration of how the person asking feels, what's in their head, basically trying to help them bounce their thoughts back at themselves.

Of course I'm procrastinating on delving into Texas, but no longer.

For heaven's sake, it's unconscionable to place the inner workings of one's body in the hands of another. Yeah, we do the surgery thing with our kidlets, tonsils and adenoids in my youngun's case, but these were medically necessary. It was not a choice between options where there were profound ongoing implications. And of course, too many times a parent might have been the cause.

I cannot imagine a 14 year old being of a mind to seek out a judge's authorisation. And what provisions are in the law that protect a minor from the rage of pissed off parents? Even the most supportive among us is a tad annoyed when we find our child has crossed these lines - teens aren't supposed to have sex, remember? That abstinence only thing and all. We usually do settle and move towards support, but for some parents... say a beating might be in order, or tossing from home. How about a forced pregnancy? Forced pregnancy and adoption? That happened to a friend, a friend from whence my name comes, rape, pregnancy, carry, place for adoption. The nutmare scenario.

Now Texas wishes to have the damn consent notarised. *rolls eyes* How about everyone involve swear an oath on the Bible? Why not have a mandatory 9 month waiting period (this one is coming, I can feel the idea in the ethersphere.)

So where are we in the US on access to abortion? Glad you asked. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, goddess bless them has compiled a very nice exhibit on Mapping Our Rights; it really is worth checking out.