The BUST blog has kept you abreast of many of the appalling attacks on reproductive rights in the United States, most recently through the story of the two Michigan state representatives who were banned from speaking on the House floor for using the words “vagina” and “vasectomy” in a debate over abortion-related legislation. In a rather awesome turn of events, Eve Ensler (AKA the woman who made it ‘cool’ to talk about vaginas through her famous production, The Vagina Monologues) helped Representative Brown coordinate a rally on the steps of the Michigan Capitol building that incorporated one of the ensemble monologues from the play (the other women featured are all other Michigan House and Senate representatives!).
While it’s unfortunate that an elected official has to fight for the right to speak on the behalf of her constituents, it’s remarkable that Rep. Brown is taking this opportunity to stand up for freedom of speech and the many silenced vaginas across the land. Check further coverage of the event, which took place Monday night, on the Huffington Post website, and watch Rep. Brown’s brave post-performance closing speech below.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJYHjOMv310&feature=related 425×344](Image Courtesy The Washington Post)
