Idaho Lawmaker Compares Group's Support for Abortion With Supporting Prostitution
January 18, 2013 — Idaho Rep. Ron Mendive (R) on Wednesday asked whether the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho's support for abortion rights means the group also supports prostitution, the AP/Idaho Statesman reports.
Mendive posed the question to ACLU of Idaho Executive Director Monica Hopkins while the group was making a presentation about its legislative priorities. He added that prostitution is "a woman's choice."
Hopkins replied that prostitution is illegal, while abortion rights are constitutionally protected. She noted that prostitution is not always a "choice" and that some women are victims of human trafficking.
Mendive was "correlating a criminal action with something that is constitutionally protected," which are "two completely separate issues," Hopkins said after the event.
Mendive said he thinks that ACLU of Idaho is promoting a "double standard" and that prostitution is a choice "more so than an abortion would be." He added later that his comments might have been a "poor illustration" of his point (Boone, AP/Idaho Statesman, 1/16).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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