From DPVA:
Elected, Reproductive Rights Leaders Call Out Winsome Earle-Sears for Being “Morally Opposed” to Protecting Reproductive Freedom
VIRGINIA – Today, Delegate Betsy Carr, Delegate Rae Cousins, Communications Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Rae Pickett, Elizabeth McEntire, a Virginian with a personal reproductive care story called out Winsome Earle-Sears for being “morally opposed” to protecting reproductive freedom. Their calls follow new reporting from the Virginia Mercury detailing the handwritten note Winsome Earle-Sears left on the constitutional amendment that would protect reproductive freedom in Virginia, including contraception, abortion, and IVF.
“My story is one that many women across Virginia share. It’s why it’s so concerning to me that Winsome Earle-Sears is “morally opposed” to protecting reproductive freedom,” said Elizabeth McEntire, a Virginian with a personal reproductive care story. “We deserve a leader like Abigail Spanberger who will fight to protect our right to contraception and reproductive care.”
“Winsome Earle-Sears said she is ‘morally opposed’ to protecting reproductive rights. So, if given the chance, she will roll them back and enact extreme restrictions that could threaten the lives of Virginia women,” said Delegate Betsy Carr. “While Sears wants to roll back our rights, Abigail Spanberger will fight to protect access to contraception and reproductive care and ensure that healthcare decisions stay between women and their medical provider.”
“Winsome Earle-Sears went so far as to write out that she is ‘morally opposed’ to protecting reproductive freedom on the constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to contraception, IVF, and reproductive care, ” said Delegate Rae Cousins. “This handwritten note is just another reminder that Sears is wildly out-of-step with Virginians on this issue and that she will roll back reproductive rights if she reaches the governor’s mansion.”
“Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to be the governor of Virginia, in her own words is ‘morally opposed’ to protecting reproductive rights,” said Communications Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Rae Pickett. “As we see more and more attacks on reproductive rights here in Virginia and across the country, it’s especially important that we have a leader who will stand up for our rights.”
Read more on Sears’ dangerous record:
- Sears left a handwritten note that she is “morally opposed to this bill […]” on the constitutional amendment that would protect reproductive freedom in Virginia, including contraception, abortion, and IVF.
- Sears admitted she would not sign the Right to Contraception Act into law saying “[…] This legislation is more about pushing a political agenda […].”
- Sears “couldn’t resist” voting against this legislation to guarantee Virginia women’s access to contraception.
- She refused to answer questions from the media about her tie-breaking vote denying Virginians access to contraception and birth control.
- Sears supports an extreme six week abortion ban similar to the law that took effect in Texas that bans abortion before most women know they are pregnant.
- Sears has said that she would support an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.
- January 2021: The Winchester Star reported that Sears said she wanted to make abortion illegal in all cases, unless the life of the mother was at risk.
- Sears vowed to “do everything in [her] power” to end abortion in Virginia.
- Sears’ 2021 lieutenant governor campaign website: “I will do everything in my power to stop this act from taking place in Virginia.”
- Sears attempted to scrub this abortion section from her website around September 2021.
- Sears’ 2021 lieutenant governor campaign website: “I will do everything in my power to stop this act from taking place in Virginia.”
- Sears has declared she is “standing shoulder to shoulder” with the far-right fight against IVF.
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