By Emma Velez, Columnist
Oklahoma ranks among the 10 worst states for women’s health in the nation, according to TIME and Health Magazines.
Unfortunately, we are seeing this trend continue in the current legislative session.
We cannot go through a single session at the State Capitol without our congressmen introducing further blockades for access to women’s health and limits on Oklahoma women’s reproductive freedoms.
The newest attempt takes the form of SB 452, authored by Sen. Clark Jolley, R- Edmond.
This bill would make coverage of hormonal contraceptives optional for employers.
“Notwithstanding any other provision of state or federal law, no employer shall be required to provide or pay for any benefit or service related to abortion or contraception through the provision of health insurance to his or her employees,” the bill reads.
Abortion has already been excluded from insurance coverage in Oklahoma.
The real departure is from excluding birth control, something that is generally not controversial, even among conservatives.
To make SB 452 more extreme, Jolley cites Dr. Dominic Pedulla, an Oklahoma City cardiologist who identifies as a natural family-planning medical consultant and women’s health researcher.
“Part of their identity is the potential to be a mother,” Pedulla said.
“They are being asked to suppress and radically contradict part of their own identity, and if that wasn’t bad enough, they are being asked to poison their bodies.”
This new effort at the state legislature is, frankly, abhorrent.
This measure, aside from being archaic, carries the potential to make a vital part of family planning inaccessible to women who are unable to afford it.
Arguably, it is these women who need access to birth control the most.
I know I will be contacting my state representatives to table the measure, and I urge you to do the same.
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