The West Virginia legislature held a public hearing Wednesday regarding a restrictive abortion ban being considered. About 90 people showed up to make comments, most of whom were reportedly there to speak in favor of abortion rights.
The youngest of those speakers was 12-year-old Addison Gardner. Each speaker was given only 45 seconds to make their case and she certainly made the most of her time.
“I attend Buffalo Middle School,” she told lawmakers. “I play for varsity volleyball and I run track. My education is very important to me, and I plan on doing great things in life. If a man decides that I’m an object and does unspeakable and tragic things to me, am I—a child—supposed to carry and birth another child?”
“Am I to put my body through the physical trauma of pregnancy? Am I to suffer the mental implications, a child who had no say in what was being done with my body?” she demanded. “Some here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?”
12 year-old Addison Gardner in West Virginia, where an abortion ban without rape or incest exceptions passed the House yesterday.
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) July 28, 2022
"Am I, a child, supposed to carry and birth another child? Some here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?” pic.twitter.com/uCW0ZYnF4T
Gardner is being heralded online as being “brave” and a “hero.” She definitely is those things but my god, she shouldn’t have to be. No child should have to gather up this kind of courage to be such a huge inspiration in the fight for abortion rights. Gardner’s speech was powerful but the fact that she had to give it in the first place means we as a society have failed her.
There were a number of other incredibly impactful speeches given that day, like this one from Katie Quiñonez, the director of Women’s Health Center, the only abortion clinic in West Virginia.
“Let’s be clear, this ban has nothing to do with life, it has nothing to do with health, it has nothing to do with family, it is about control,” said Quiñonez, who was forcefully escorted out after going over her allotted 45 seconds.
Katie fucking Quinonez!!!!! pic.twitter.com/GiwqavT7ql
— Loree Stark (@loreestark) July 27, 2022
In the end, the bill is still being considered but state legislators did add in an amendment Wednesday that would make an exception to the ban in case of rape (if reported to law enforcement) and incest.
(image: screencap)
