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) September 3, 2021
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 out.
— ZUBY: New Album Out Now (@ZubyMusic) September 4, 2021
They speak as if there are NO other options and then talk about 'autonomy'.
Men, control your willies.
Women, control your fannies.
It's not that hard. https://t.co/sNHp4Vz5Wf
I don’t think your participation will have an impact, Bette.
— Clay Walker, CEcD (@ClaytonRWalker) September 5, 2021
Pro-abortion women are repulsive so this really isn’t the threat you think it is https://t.co/xQqPhOLDE4
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) September 4, 2021
Oh no. Please, anything but that. I’m not sure I can live in a world where....Bette Midler won’t put out for me. https://t.co/EzppNrrsnP
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) September 4, 2021
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.
My dad actually suggested that decades ago.
— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) September 3, 2021
Lysistrata for modern times.
— Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) September 3, 2021
I'm getting tired of hitting the "like button" for Bette Midler's Tweets. Doesn't Twitter have an option to just love her once and for all?
— Carol Patterson (@CarolPa28503493) September 5, 2021
Did you ever know that you’re my Shero? 🔥 #Lysistrata
— Tara Dublin (@taradublinrocks) September 4, 2021
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 I’m a hero? https://t.co/5sKEWOccUs
— Anna Fitzpatrick (@bananafitz) September 4, 2021
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?
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) September 4, 2021
Lysistrata is not an effective organizing tool. Instead, fuck whomever and support abortion funds. #SexStrike https://t.co/qWeHVN6VJ9
This implies that women don’t have sex for their enjoyment, that sex is something we do for men and that sex is something done to us, not with us. It is the antithesis of bodily autonomy, which should be at the center of these conversations. https://t.co/u7dGm2uIPR
— born in the fires of chaos (@KiaSpeaks) September 4, 2021
Do we really have to explain for the millionth time why this is absolutely, profoundly, exhaustingly not it https://t.co/pF424fkJJI
— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) September 4, 2021
i suggest that maybe we should stop treating women like our most valuable social and political asset is between our legs. https://t.co/NBwaf9E3se
— Jenn | Reappropriate (@reappropriate) September 4, 2021
this just seems like a punishment for women who enjoy having sex with men? https://t.co/pQ1a3ndRl6
— Mira Gonzalez (@miragonz) September 4, 2021
Ah yes, practicing abstinence, that will surely stick it to these Christian fundamentalists https://t.co/7JTF57hhJg
— Jake Flores (@feraljokes) September 4, 2021
Others have been protesting in different ways online, with some flooding the Texas Right to Life website with bogus tip-offs.
