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Knitted Uteruses Delivered To Arizona Lawmakers To Protest Contraception Bill

Posted: 04/ 5/2012 5:38 pm Updated: 04/ 6/2012 8:17 am

In a creative response to a controversial bill that would allow employers to opt out of providing coverage for contraception, a group of women's rights activists delivered knitted uteruses to the Arizona lawmakers responsible for the contentious measure.

According to the Arizona Republic's Alia Beard Rau, the uteruses were sent to 32 Republican lawmakers to protest House Bill 2625. Although the measure failed in the state Senate last month, an amended version will likely be introduced next week.

Rau reports:

In its current form, the legislation would allow any business or insurance company to opt out of providing contraception health-care coverage for religious reasons.

Its sponsor is currently considering an amendment so that the legislation would only apply to religious-based employers such as St. Vincent de Paul and Catholic Charities.

Started as a small blog project in the midst of the uproar over Rush Limbaugh's comments about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, the knitted uterus movement has grown as more groups aim to draw attention to the often lopsided nature of the contraception debate.

"The message is hands off my uterus. If you want one to control, here's one of your own," the group's co-founder, Donna Drunchunas, told ABC News last month.

Women in Texas have reportedly crafted similar uteruses for Gov. Rick Perry (R) and other state lawmakers, which they plan to hand deliver later this month.

Colorado's two male U.S. senators, Mark Udall (D) and Michael Bennet (D), were also reportedly sent the hand-made uteruses, as were Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum.

Below is a picture of the knitted uteruses, courtesy of Rau:

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In a creative response to a controversial bill that would allow employers to opt out of providing coverage for contraception, a group of women's rights activists delivered knitted uteruses to the Ariz...
In a creative response to a controversial bill that would allow employers to opt out of providing coverage for contraception, a group of women's rights activists delivered knitted uteruses to the Ariz...
Filed by Mollie Reilly  | 
 
 
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01:24 AM on 04/14/2012
Republicans are so ridiculous. They are well known haters of the poor and minorities, particularly African Americans. Why then won't they finance contraception and abortion? If they did, a lot few impoverished and (in their opinion, not mine) undesireables would be brought into this world. Instead, by working so hard to ensure women prevent/remove unwanted fetuses from their wombs, they increase the population of the very people they hate.
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Melissa McCarthy
05:13 PM on 04/17/2012
Please don't lump contraception and abortion into the same argument. There are those of us who strongly believe in contraception in order to AVOID abortion. Abortion should NOT be viewed as just another form of birth control.
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Kara Kramer
10:42 PM on 06/02/2012
No one views abortion as a form of birth control Melissa and to suggest they do is to betray your entire gender.
You KNOW this isn't true.
Stop supporting lies against other women, it doesn't matter how many of us you throw under the bus, conservative men are NEVER GOING TO LOVE YOU.
They don't even LIKE you.
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Llib Noswad
aka: Bill, Conservative
02:48 PM on 04/08/2012
Did they have knitted fetus' inside ready to abort?
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rg9rts
Carpe Diem! This aint rehearsal
02:28 PM on 04/07/2012
How about a set for the Idaho legislature. Another collection of TPGOP misognysts.
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oldwolf49
Religion is a tool of the evil.
12:39 AM on 04/07/2012
Ladies, I cannot knit but I am with you, if you need more yarn let me know.
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rockymtngma
Science rocks!
08:19 PM on 04/06/2012
Can someone tell me why Colorado's Senators Udall and Bennett were sent knitted uteruses? I haven't seen anything about either of them being in the least anti-abortion or anti-contraception. What gives?
08:16 PM on 04/06/2012
I am female, my body is my own, the government has no right to control any part thereof. The constitution states I am to be free in my personal effects. It does not get more personal than my own body. The congressmen who feel this needs to be addressed need to be addressing the real issues this country faces. It is not my uterus. They can start with job creation, debt reduction, reduction of their spending and salaries as it is obvious to the majority of Americans they are overpaid for the service they deliver is less than desirable.If we were to grade them on their performance not one would pass the smell test. They are so corrupt and concerned about getting rich at the little person's expense it stinks. This bill is like many others they put out, it is only to hide what they are trying to pass unnoticed behind the scenes. They put these controversial bills out to hide what they really want to put forth, yes protest the bill but find out what it is they really want and stop that cause it will be ten times worse than this.
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oldwolf49
Religion is a tool of the evil.
12:35 AM on 04/07/2012
Right on.
07:20 PM on 04/08/2012
I'm with you.
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Schalaine
We are women. We vote.
08:10 PM on 04/06/2012
What a great idea. And they are so cute. I want one!
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sugarpops
06:25 PM on 04/06/2012
Hope Rush is on their list. ;-)
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06:20 PM on 04/06/2012
The "war on fertility" ironically only benefits conservatives. Already 40% of the American populace self-identifies as "conservative" while only 20% considers themselves as "liberals."

As liberals clamor for their rights to abort human life, it isn't hard to contemplate where this is all headed. Fewer liberals still and an even larger base of conservatives.

Why are liberal women obsessed with their uterus? Why don't they see that the AZ legislation is intended to protect the First Amendment rights of those employers who value their own freedom of religion and conscience?
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oldwolf49
Religion is a tool of the evil.
12:37 AM on 04/07/2012
I really think your reasoning is, I want to say flawed but realizing you are obviously a right to lifer I will say incorrect.
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rg9rts
Carpe Diem! This aint rehearsal
02:35 PM on 04/07/2012
Wolfie,this guy reasons? It seems to me that its the TPGOP, conservatives that are obsessed with the uterus. I still want to see mandatory digitals for the male legislators, exams that is.
11:51 PM on 04/09/2012
You don't have to be a Liberal to want freedom of choices and over your body. You clearly do not understand what the issue is here, because this is a women's issue regarding women's bodies. It's nice that you have an opinion, but being a man with male anatomy, you really don't have a horse in this race. Women can make their own decisions about their bodies without your help thank you.
01:19 AM on 04/14/2012
Thank you. The sooner we remove men from the decision making process, the better. The decision to carry a fetus to full term, where it then becomes a life at birth, is solely the woman's. The male donates sperm and has financial responsibility if the fetus is born, but the woman is the one impacted.
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scorpions5
Facts do not cease to exist when ignored.
04:44 PM on 04/06/2012
In November, the REAL uteruses will be voting in droves against the clowns that have enraged women and we will not stop until all the republicans are voted out.
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06:22 PM on 04/06/2012
So, the uteruses of conservative women aren't REAL? lol
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Schalaine
We are women. We vote.
08:17 PM on 04/06/2012
Don't worry, most will be voting for the Democrat. I don't care what your political persuasion is, women have no intention of allowing wrinkled, old, men to make decisions best made by a woman, her significant other, and a doctor. Count on it!
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rockymtngma
Science rocks!
08:21 PM on 04/06/2012
Real, as opposed to knitted . . . like the ones in the article.
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oldwolf49
Religion is a tool of the evil.
12:37 AM on 04/07/2012
Right on.
04:33 PM on 04/06/2012
What is the patter? I will make some too!
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SeeTheFnords
Look out - there's one behind you!
06:03 AM on 04/09/2012
There are a few different free patterns on ravelry.com, for knitting and crochet.
04:11 PM on 04/06/2012
I want a knitted uterus!
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03:55 PM on 04/06/2012
Ladies I'm with you, but by far the most important action you can take is to make your votes count.
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Razpooten
Nil homini certum est
03:43 PM on 04/06/2012
They should send full color pics of an orchiectomy (removal of testicles).
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Shawnie1673
Tea Bags; Boil, Dip, Stir...
03:41 PM on 04/06/2012
Do republicans realize that their front runner for the presidential nomination is 20 points behind President Obama, they haven't figured out this isn't a winning argument?
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oldwolf49
Religion is a tool of the evil.
12:39 AM on 04/07/2012
For them it is still an election to be purchased. Polls are for people without money.
07:32 PM on 04/08/2012
You said it .