The Patriot Post® · Alyssa Milano's Not-So-Lucky Strike
The former star of “Who’s the Boss?” wants to make it clear who isn’t the boss of women’s bodies. But Alyssa Milano’s idea for protesting Georgia’s new pro-life law has only proven one thing: Just because Hollywood takes a side doesn’t mean they understand the issue.
“Our reproductive rights are being erased,” Milano tweeted Friday. “Until women have legal control over our own bodies, we just cannot risk pregnancy. JOIN ME by not having sex until we get bodily autonomy back.” When word of her #SexStrike started making the social media rounds, the blowback was amazingly universal. People on both sides of the political aisle — women, especially — could hardly contain their irritation (if they were liberal) or laughter (if they were conservative).
From the liberal media to the most militant feminists, the actress’s suggestion went over like a ton of bricks. The Left seemed absolutely appalled that Milano was reinforcing this idea that “women’s power lies primarily in their willingness to ‘give’ men sex.” As if that weren’t enough, an appalled Peggy Drexler at CNN couldn’t believe that anyone would suggest abstinence — abstinence — as a viable solution. “The Georgia law is a blow, for sure,” she writes, but Milano’s campaign is a joke.
“Think about it. In calling for a sex strike as a way to regain ‘bodily autonomy,’ as she put it, Milano is implying that women pretty much only have sex to please men or for babies. There’s no acknowledgment that women might have sex for their own pleasure. Calling for a sex strike also suggests that women can, and should, bribe men with sex, effectively reinforcing an age-old stereotype, which feminism has worked hard to debunk, that all women have to offer is their bodies.”
She didn’t make any friends in the women’s movement either. “Please stop feeding the narrative that women are providers and men are consumers of sex. Bribing men for equal rights with access to our bodies is not how feminism works,” one feminist fired back. Other liberals were upset that Milano completely missed the irony of her sex strike. “There is a danger when a high-profile person makes a huge statement without thinking it through,” activists as far away as the U.K. complained.
Conservative women, meanwhile, couldn’t help but smile. After all, Milano had accidentally stumbled on the path to true reproductive freedom. “First time I’ve ever seen a pro-choicer advocate for personal responsibility,” Allie Stuckey replied. “Kudos! If y'all have a rally, LMK — I’ll be there!” Lila Rose was on board too. “I’m totally with you, [Alyssa], on not having sex. But the issue isn’t ‘reproductive rights.’ The issue is reproductive responsibilities & fidelity. No one should have sex until they’re ready to embrace the privilege & responsibility of lifelong commitment & raising a child.”
You just can’t make this stuff up, Amanda Prestigiacomo points out at the Daily Wire. “Ms. Milano and company are promoting abstinence — the most effective way to ward off unwanted pregnancy — to stick it to the conservatives. And, ironically, the women who hate ‘being told what to do with their bodies’ …are telling other women what to do with their bodies.”
And here’s the other big blind spot for Hollywood and the hard Left: they’ve completely misread American women on this issue. Even before this debate started to rage in New York, women were already more “pro-life” than men! Now, with liberals arguing for flat-out infanticide, the numbers are even more glowing for pro-lifers. Obviously, it would be a lot more convenient for Alyssa Milano and other Democrats to make their phony chauvinist labels stick, but the facts don’t bear them out. In fact, Democrats in general aren’t on their side — at least when it comes to the party’s extreme new platform.
For now, our deepest thanks to Alyssa Milano. We’ve been trying to get liberals on board with sexual responsibility for ages. If more Democrats get on board with controlling their “reproductive rights”, who knows? We must just be able to eliminate the need for Planned Parenthood altogether!
Originally published here.
Evangelicals Won’t Take the Equality Act on Faith
There’ve been some creative attempts to sink the most dangerous LGBT bill in history, but Rep. Debbie Lesko’s (R-Ariz.) might be the best. When the legislation hits the House floor later this week, the congresswoman has an idea: why not change the name of the legislation to something more realistic — like the “Forfeiting Women’s Rights Act?”
That’s just one of the 28 protest amendments on deck for this week’s floor debate from Republicans. If conservatives can’t stop Democrats from bringing the legislation up for a vote, they can at least register their displeasure! Which is exactly what some of the nation’s top evangelical leaders are doing in a new letter to House and Senate. With this new bill barreling down the track — and people across business, education, sports, social services bracing for impact — the evangelical community is refusing to stand by and watch liberals flush 235 years of freedom down the drain.
Together, we’re sounding the alarm to Congress that this so-called Equality bill has nothing to do with parity and everything to do with destroying the bedrocks of American life. As such, these evangelical leaders understand one thing: they can’t remain silent. “Not only is [this bill] incompatible with God’s Word (the Bible) and the historic teaching of the church, but the Equality Act is also riddled with threats to religious liberty and the sanctity of human life.” For starters, the signers argue, House Democrats are trying to equate sexual conduct with immutable characteristics like race and ethnicity. “This lie,” they write, harms “countless men, women, and children” — and not just in this instance, but so many others.
“Passage of this coercive measure would lay the groundwork for this lie to enter classrooms across the nation, as public educators could be compelled to teach it to their students. No family would be safe from the long reach of the Equality Act.” And that’s not all — not by a long shot. The bill would also gut religious freedom protections — even, the leaders point out, “the freedom currently enjoyed by houses of worship.”
“Under its changes to the employment nondiscrimination provisions in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, some houses of worship would be barred from ensuring their leaders and other employees abide by their beliefs about marriage, sexual behavior, and the distinction between the sexes. Women who identify as men would have to be accepted as men and therefore potentially eligible to serve in positions reserved for men (such as a Catholic Priest or Jewish Rabbi).”
“Religious employers that fall under Title VII may be forced to offer insurance coverage for medical procedures (such as hormone therapy or surgery related to "gender transition”) that violate biblical teaching. Finally, the Equality Act would expressly do away with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act‘s application to its provisions, thereby precluding any religious freedom claims which clergy or others might bring. Under such restrictions, the pathway for the gospel would slowly be closed off.“
And we’ve all seen how these same ideas — in smaller bites — have devastated areas like adoption and foster care. Under H.R. 5, the government would drive every faith-based organization out of the business of placing children in good homes. Like so many other Americans, they would have to "choose between continuing their life-affirming work or violating the tenets of their faith, the very faith that drives them to care for society’s most vulnerable.”
Then, of course, pro-lifers are starting to realize what a threat the bill is to — not just the unborn — but people in the medical community too. Believe it or not, the Equality Act actually “creates a right to demand abortion from health care providers. The termination of human life in the womb is unacceptable to any biblically and historically faithful Christian. The responsibility to care for the "least of these” (Matt. 25:40) is a fundamental responsibility of Christ’s church, and any proposal that undermines a culture of life must be rejected.“
For these reasons — and so many others — the church is calling on Congress to reject H.R. 5. You can too! If you haven’t contacted your representative and urged them to vote NO, don’t wait. Take a few minutes to email and call today! The future of freedom depends on it.
Originally published here.
TMU Grads: It Takes Degree of Courage
This past weekend, I had the privilege of giving the commencement address to the largest graduating class ever at Truett McConnell University in Georgia. It’s not easy to step out into this world, especially now, but the young people I met are ready. They’ve studied the Bible and grown in the faith. As far as I’m concerned, that foundation from TMU will take them farther in life than any degree ever will.
My advice to the Class of 2019 was simple: have the courage to follow God wherever He leads. That’s a big challenge in today’s culture. Just look at what’s happening across other college campuses — where Christians are harassed, ridiculed, even attacked. As I told them, there will be a lot of times in life when it feels like you’re surrounded. When your adversaries are everywhere, your friends are nowhere to be found, and you have to ask yourself: How do I share the good news of the gospel? How am I to pursue what I’ve been called to and trained for?
I told them the story of Chesty Puller, the legendary Marine — who, in the Korean War, was cut off behind enemy lines. The Army had written the 1st Marine Division off as being lost because they were surrounded by 22 enemy divisions — that’s 22 to one! Chesty pulled out his radio and told headquarters, "All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us…they can’t get away this time!”
The opportunities for this generation — and, frankly, for all of us — are abundant. But we have to have the boldness to stand on holy ground, like Joshua. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:8-9, ESV). I believe we are living in a significant and unique moment. In fact, I believe if we could see this moment on the timeline of human history it would stand out as an incredible unfolding of the kingdom of God. And here is the exciting thing for college graduates all across the country — we are privileged to be a part of it. This generation has been entrusted by God with this moment. Courage is what turns the pages of history.
Congratulations to everyone in the Class of 2019 — and thank you, TMU for letting me share in the celebration of such an important day!
Originally published here.
This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.