The United Nations Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice prepared a paper stating, in part, “The right of a woman or girl to make autonomous decisions about her own body and reproductive functions is at the very core of her fundamental right to equality and privacy. . .”.  The paper further states, “The decision as to whether to continue a pregnancy or terminate it, is fundamentally and primarily the woman’s decision . . .” and that “It is imperative to understand that at this state, despite the intense efforts made by religious lobbies to portray the zygote as a baby, it still consists of unindividualized cells, from which the embryo as well as the placenta will develop.” 

The government has no business making healthcare decisions for ANYONE.  The best person to make healthcare decisions is the person whose health is at stake.  Healthcare decisions should be private.  The person making healthcare decisions should be legally able to make these decisions with the advice of their healthcare providers and using their own moral compass.  

I will introduce and support legislation that would allow all people in the State of Tennessee the right to make autonomous decisions regarding their own bodies and reproductive functions, including the right to access hormonal birth control, intrauterine devices, emergency contraceptives, abortion care, and more permanent forms of reproductive care, such as tubal ligation.