The photograph accompanying the Associated Press article “Kansas voters resoundingly protect access to abortion” (Aug. 4, Page A2) immediately called to mind the infuriating comments that Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., made about the physical appearance of pro-choice women marching against the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
In a photo published on Page A2 of the Aug. 4 Press Herald, Calley Malloy, left, of Shawnee, Kan.; Cassie Woolworth, of Olathe, Kan.; and Dawn Rattan, right, of Shawnee, applaud during a primary watch party Tuesday in Overland Park, Kan. Kansas voters rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban abortion outright. Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP
Mr. Gaetz said, “Nobody wants to impregnate you if you look like a thumb. … They’re like 5 feet 2, 350 pounds. …” Mr. Gaetz recently doubled down on his hateful, sexist comments by saying he has yet to see a whole lot of evidence to disprove what he said.
At the risk of engaging this man in a ridiculous debate about what pro-choice women do or don’t look like, as if our appearance matters in the least, I’d like to shove a copy of this photo under Mr. Gaetz’s nose. In the photo, I see three women who inadvertently defy his description, applauding the overwhelming rejection of the Kansas ballot measure that would have allowed the tightening of restrictions on abortion or banning it outright. I also see several applauding men in the room.
Mr. Gaetz should take this photo as the evidence he seems to need to prove himself wrong. A majority of Americans support a woman’s right to choose; as such, we come in all shapes, sizes and ages and both genders.
P.S. We don’t give a damn what he thinks about our appearance.
Joyce Oreskovich
Brunswick
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