Democratic Lawmaker to Do 'Vagina Monologues'

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
Associated Press
LANSING, Mich.
A state lawmaker who says she was barred from speaking in the Michigan House because Republicans objected to her saying “vagina” during debate on anti-abortion legislation is set to perform “The Vagina Monologues” on the Statehouse steps _ with a hand from the author.

Eve Ensler, whose groundbreaking play about women’s sexuality still packs theaters 16 years after it debuted, is overseeing Monday night’s performance on the Statehouse steps by Democratic state Rep. Lisa Brown, 10 other lawmaker and several actresses. The show was expected to draw quite a crowd, as more than 3,700 people had indicated they planned to attend on the Facebook event page, “Vaginas Take Back the Capitol!”

Ensler, who took time away from a production she’s overseeing in California so she could help put on Monday’s performance, said she’s thrilled to be involved. She likened the punishment meted out by the Republicans who control the Michigan House to “the Dark Ages.”

Brown made her comments during debate last week on a series of bills that supporters say would make abortions safer but that opponents say would dramatically reduce women’s ability to get abortions. While speaking against a bill requiring doctors to ensure women aren’t coerced into ending their pregnancies, Brown told Republicans, “I’m flattered you’re all so concerned about my vagina. But no means no.”

Brown was barred from speaking in the House during the next day’s session. House Republicans say they didn’t object to her saying “vagina.” They said Brown compared the legislation to rape, violating House decorum. She denies the allegation.

Democratic Rep. Barb Byrum, of Onondaga, said she, too, was barred from speaking last Thursday because she referred to vasectomies during the debate.

The women’s speaking ban lasted only through Thursday, when lawmakers left for a five-week break. But the incident has garnered attention internationally and on social media, where the hashtags (hash)vaginagate and (hash)sayvagina are attracting a flurry of posts.

Brown says it isn’t just women who are upset with the House GOP leaders’ actions.

The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan _ whose 650 members include men _ criticized taking away Brown’s and Byrum’s right to speak. The group said it wasn’t taking a position on the bills in question, but on the lawmakers’ free speech rights.

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Follow Kathy Barks Hoffman on Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathybhoffman.

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