Democrat State Sen. Becky Whitley wants you to know she supports the right to abortion access without limits — and not just for women.
After a Senate committee voted against two pro-abortion measures Wednesday, Whitley tweeted: “Extremely disappointing vote out of @TheNHSenate Judiciary Committee. @NHSenateDems will never stop fighting to protect the fundamental rights of Granite State women and pregnant people. #NHPolitics [emphasis added].
The phrase “pregnant people” echoes the phrase “birthing person,” a gender-neutral phrase embraced by advocates of what is often referred to as “woke” politics. Both imply that men can become pregnant, a claim that contradicts basic biology.
NHJournal sent multiple email requests to the Hopkinton Democrat for comment or clarification, asking if she believes people who aren’t women, aka “men,” can become pregnant. Whitley declined to respond.
Some of her Senate colleagues, however, were willing to speak out.
“Last time I checked, only women can give birth,” said Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) when asked about Whitley’s statement.
Sen. Daryl Abbas (R-Salem) had a similar response. “Since the beginning of time, my understanding is that only biological women bear a child or become pregnant.”
Abbas quoted former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a liberal icon “who said ‘[sex] is an immutable characteristic.’ I understand you may identify as something different. But that doesn’t change the reality of what your biological gender is, and only a biological woman can get pregnant.”
Abbas said the phrase “birthing person” or “pregnant person” will be heard on the floor, but writing accurate legislation requires accurate language.
For years, progressive groups have pushed these phrases to replace “mother” or “woman.” Last summer, the National Education Association proposed a resolution that would change the word “mother” in contracts to “birthing parent” in pursuit of inclusion. President Megan Tuttle declined to comment if the New Hampshire chapter of the NEA agreed.
After a media backlash, the NEA allowed the resolution to die without a vote.
The extremism of the far left’s position has even pushed some progressives like Bette Midler to respond.
“WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives, and even our name,” she tweeted over the summer. “They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ and ‘menstruators.’ and even ‘people with vaginas!’ Don’t let them erase you!”
New Hampshire Democrats have highlighted their support for hot-button social issues like unrestricted abortion and letting schools keep secrets from parents about their children’s behavior at school regarding sex and gender. Whitley’s comments came in response to the rejection of a bill that would lift any punishments for doctors who perform elective abortions in the 8th or even 9th month of pregnancy, for example.
The New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women says Whitley’s comments “validate what Republicans have been stating,” said NHFRW spokeswoman Victoria Sullivan.
“The Democrats continue to try to diminish the role of women – especially mothers. Conversely, Republican women continue to support and empower all women and celebrate the value of women in our society.”
