Once upon a time, there was a land where women were believed to be nothing more than a vehicle to bear children and were therefore unworthy of having the same rights as fully human beings. Women who were raped or whose lives were threatened by pregnancy could not access legal abortion. In vitro fertilization for couples who desperately wanted children was outlawed. The most effective forms of birth control, while completely safe, were deemed illegal. Women suffering miscarriages were unable to access medical care without being investigated for possible homicide….

It sounds like a horrible situation in an underdeveloped country but in fact this scary scenario is taking place right here in the United States. On November 8, voters in Mississippi will go to the polls to determine if a fertilized egg should be considered a person under state law.

Nevermind that fertilization does not even meet the medical definition of an established pregnancy (that would be implantation). Nevermind that this law would outlaw not uncommon safe procedures including in vitro fertilization and abortion in all circumstances, not to mention widely hormonal birth control methods like the Pill. And nevermind that this law would have completely ridiculous consequences like permitting pregnant women to drive alone in the carpool lane and allowing zygotes to inherit property.

The “personhood movement” is not concerned with these small details but the rest of us absolutely should be. When you give a fertilized egg the same rights as a living, breathing, thinking person, you get all the ridiculous consequences… and the incredibly scary ones, too.

These ballot initiatives are nothing new but the Mississippi measure’s chances for success are. Similar measures have been defeated soundly in Colorado where Personhood USA, the group pushing this particular anti-choice agenda, is based. Such a measure was even defeated in South Dakota in 2006. But now it seems the “personhood” movement has wised up and brought their extremist agenda to the state where it seems to have the best chance of success—Mississippi.

To all those who would roll their eyes as if to say, oh Mississippi, it’s practically lawless anyway, that would never happen here– Not so fast. These ballot measures have been defeated in other states but consider what a momentum shift this would be to the “personhood” movement whose worldview represents a significant shift away from prioritizing the life and health of women in favor of giving all the rights the state can offer to a fertilized egg that she may or may not be carrying.

Furthermore, if you think that this Mississippi situation is occurring in a vacuum, check out Jessica Valenti’s fascinating (in a can’t-look-away-from-the-train-wreck kind of way) piece in the Washington Post late last week. She outlines the multitude of state laws that prioritize the rights of the fetus before those of the mother resulting in extreme cases of life endangerment and, in at least one instance, the death of the woman. 

The good news is that November 8 is a week away and there is still time to defeat the Mississippi amendment. Join Planned Parenthood tomorrow evening (November 1) from 6:30-9:00pm for a special adopt-a-state phone bank to educate MS voters on the far-reaching effects of this measure. RSVP to Alison at alison.kiser@ppcentralnc.org to participate or for more information. Then check out http://www.votenoon26.org/ to learn more about this amendment and how you can help!

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