The restrictions imposed on women’s health centers in Virginia through legislation are about denying access to abortion. A subset of politicians in the Virginia State Legislature and a subset of their constituencies, as a result of their religious beliefs, appear to believe that abortion for any reason is tantamount to murder.  As a result of this religious belief, the Virginia State Legislature has voted in favor of legislation to impose this religious belief on all Virginians. The effect of this anti-abortion legislation is to force either closure of three of 21 women’s health centers in Virginia or to force cessation of abortion services due to the imposition of these religious beliefs on the people of Virginia. The effect of this anti-abortion legislation is to deprive all Virginia women of affordable access to safe, legal reproductive health care. I commend the Board of Health’s decision to stop letting theocratic legislation dictate accessibility to medically necessary healthcare that affects women’s health and life.

The legislators for the State of Virginia need to be reminded that all Americans are entitled to freedom of religion or freedom from religion as they see fit. No legislature has the right to impose their religious beliefs on anyone.