South Dakota Measure 11

I received this in my email today and thought I'd share it with you.

WOMEN ARE SACRED
Vote "NO" on Initiated Measure 11
Protect Your Rights!
Keep abortion safe and legal!

"Women are sacred" is a sacred traditional teaching for the Dakota/Nakota/ Lakota Nations. Traditionally, decision-making regarding childbearing was the business of women. Those decisions were based on the health of the women and the good of all the Oyate. Those decisions were respected.

As women, our decision-making abilities have been taken from us in many ways. Our voices have been diminished throughout the centuries… until now. Those who do not understand our traditions will not silence us.

Our voices and decisions do not belong to a religion or a government legislature – you may not legislate our minds or our bodies. It is our inherent right as sovereign Dakota/Nakota/ Lakota women to make our own decisions.

Key issues to consider before you vote:

This measure will make it even harder for women to get an abortion. There would be only three exceptions that would grant an abortion option:

Risk of death to the pregnant woman or serious and irreversible injury to a major bodily organ or system.
Pregnancy as a result of a rape.
Pregnancy as a result of incest.

In all three of these "exceptions" the woman is forced to report her story and be judged by someone other than herself as to what is best for her health and life. These laws not only take away a woman's right to choose, but they also force her to report something that she may not want to, thus furthering her suffering and potentially challenging her safety and security.

Though there is nothing in this measure that prohibits the sale or prescribing of contraceptives, limiting access to legal abortions in this state is even more harmful because Emergency Contraception (EC) is hard to obtain. Not all hospitals provide a victim of rape with EC, such as Catholic Hospitals. Also, South Dakota has a refusal clause that allows pharmacists to refuse to fill a prescription for Emergency Contraception because of their religious or moral beliefs. This restriction further limits your ability to choose important aspects about your own health.