Despite appeals from Democrats and emotional testimonies from doctors and rape survivors, a Republican-led legislative committee rejected a proposal on Tuesday. The bill sought to add exceptions for cases of rape and incest to Louisiana’s existing abortion ban.
Louisiana, a predominantly conservative state located in the Bible Belt, has seen ongoing debates over adding exceptions to its strict abortion laws. A similar measure failed last year, reflecting the challenges advocates face in this deeply red state.
Currently, among the 14 states with bans on abortion throughout pregnancy, six include exceptions for rape and five for incest.
Democratic state Rep. Alonzo Knox pleaded with committee members before the vote, urging them to use common sense and approve the exceptions. However, the committee voted against the bill along party lines, with a 4-7 defeat.
Abortion Rights Protestors (Via Munank Sharma/Shutterstock)
Last year, a nearly identical bill also failed to advance from the same committee. In an attempt to move the legislation forward this year, Democratic state Rep. Delisha Boyd amended the bill to restrict the exceptions to minors under 17 years old. Despite this change, opponents remained unmoved.
“We have cases in Louisiana where children are raped and then forced to carry a pregnancy to term,” Boyd stated, recounting her personal motivations for pushing the bill. “This is about protecting our most vulnerable, our children.”
Boyd expressed her determination to continue fighting for the bill, considering options like bypassing the committee and bringing it directly to the House floor for a vote. However, such maneuvers typically face challenges in a Legislature dominated by Republicans with a supermajority.
