Bette Midler sparks debate after proposing women stop having sex to protest Texas anti-abortion law | indy100

Bette Midler sparked debate after suggesting that women should abstain from sex with men to protest against the controversial new anti-abortion law in Texas.

Midler tweeted: “I suggest that all women refuse to have sex with men until they are guaranteed the right to choose by Congress.”

I suggest that all women refuse to have sex with men until they are guaranteed the right to choose by Congress.
— bettemidler (@bettemidler) 1630638266

The controversial new law, known as the Heartbeat Act, bans abortion once cardiac activity is detected. This is usually after around six weeks of pregnancy — before many women even know they are pregnant.

Now Republicans in six other states — North Dakota, South Dakota, Mississippi, Indiana, Arkansas and Florida — are reportedly hoping to adopt a similar law.

Midler’s tweet clearly struck a chord and has racked up more than 100,000 likes and 20,000 retweets, but as you can imagine, not all of the replies were supportive.

Liberal women in the West are so enthusiastic about having the option to kill their unborn children... It freaks me… https://t.co/ODHsgGAoSq
— ZUBY: (@ZUBY:) 1630767959

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Many supported her suggestion, with singer Nancy Sinatra saying that her father Frank Sinatra already floated the idea decades ago.

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Actor Jane Lynch suggesting it’s “Lysistrata for modern times” in reference to an ancient Greek comedy where women withheld sex from their partners to encourage the end of the Peloponnesian War.

@BetteMidler My dad actually suggested that decades ago.
— Nancy Sinatra (@Nancy Sinatra) 1630639555

@BetteMidler Lysistrata for modern times.
— Jane Lynch (@Jane Lynch) 1630640399

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@BetteMidler Did you ever know that you’re my Shero? 🔥 #Lysistrata
— Tara Dublin Doesn’t Have A Book Deal Yet #SignTara (@Tara Dublin Doesn’t Have A Book Deal Yet #SignTara) 1630769308

Me [hasn’t had sex in weeks]: I’m doing it for the bill that passed in Texas three days ago! I guess you could say… https://t.co/vRGH8sOge2
— Anna Fitzpatrick (@Anna Fitzpatrick) 1630767405

Others suggested Midler missed the point:

What is a sex strike going to do besides reinforce patriarchal notions that women have sex only to please men? Lys… https://t.co/NaGmXvzGta
— Imani THEE Gandy (@Imani THEE Gandy) 1630787105

This implies that women don’t have sex for their enjoyment, that sex is something we do for men and that sex is som… https://t.co/qyZcmwMcCx
— born in the fires of chaos (@born in the fires of chaos) 1630777995

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i suggest that maybe we should stop treating women like our most valuable social and political asset is between our… https://t.co/0PAm1yb6jl
— Jenn | Reappropriate (@Jenn | Reappropriate) 1630793622

this just seems like a punishment for women who enjoy having sex with men? https://t.co/pQ1a3ndRl6
— Mira Gonzalez (@Mira Gonzalez) 1630784974

Ah yes, practicing abstinence, that will surely stick it to these Christian fundamentalists https://t.co/7JTF57hhJg
— Jake Flores show 2nite at GutterNYC 9pm (@Jake Flores show 2nite at GutterNYC 9pm) 1630788404

Others have been protesting in different ways online, with some flooding the Texas Right to Life website with bogus tip-offs.