Actress and pro-choice advocate Alyssa Milano ignited a social media firestorm Friday by encouraging women not to have sex “until we get bodily autonomy back” – an action that pro-lifers said would accomplish many of their goals.
Milano’s tweet was posted the same week Georgia’s governor signed a bill banning abortion when a heartbeat is present. Milano had threatened a boycott by dozens of actors if the bill wasn’t vetoed.
“Our reproductive rights are being erased,” Milano wrote on Twitter. “Until women have legal control over our own bodies we just cannot risk pregnancy. JOIN ME by not having sex until we get bodily autonomy back. I’m calling for a #SexStrike. Pass it on.”
Our reproductive rights are being erased.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 11, 2019
Until women have legal control over our own bodies we just cannot risk pregnancy.
JOIN ME by not having sex until we get bodily autonomy back.
I’m calling for a #SexStrike. Pass it on. pic.twitter.com/uOgN4FKwpg
But Milano’s Tweet may not have had the consequence she intended. Christians, pro-lifers and social conservatives said her idea sounded a lot like abstinence.
Among the supporters was Joseph Backholm, legal counsel and director of the Embassy at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview.
“This could be accidentally amazing,” Backholm tweeted. “If women stop having sex with men they aren't married to: STDs plummet. Every kid has dad around. Women don't feel used. No more abortions cause women are no longer pregnant & alone. What's not to love? Do it ladies! Make men earn it! #SexStrike.”
This could be accidentally amazing. If women stop having sex with men they aren't married to:
— Joseph Backholm (@josephbackholm) May 11, 2019
STDs plummet
Every kid has dad around
Women don't feel used
No more abortions cause women are no longer pregnant & alone.
What's not to love? Do it ladies! Make men earn it!#SexStrike https://t.co/54VKt2PZ4o
Abby Johnson, the former Planned Parenthood clinic director who is now pro-life, backed Milano’s idea. Johnson is the subject of the film Unplanned.
“On this Mother’s Day, I am in FULL support of pro-abortion women going on a sex strike. Sounds great for our movement and significantly damaging to the abortion industry,” Johnson wrote. “Thanks, @Alyssa_Milano!!”
On this Mother’s Day, I am in FULL support of pro-abortion women going on a sex strike. Sounds great for our movement and significantly damaging to the abortion industry. Thanks, @Alyssa_Milano!! My latest article. https://t.co/zqCXgG50vw
— Abby Johnson (@AbbyJohnson) May 12, 2019
Johnson added in a Townhall column that if “less people are having sex who are fine with abortion, then there will be fewer unplanned pregnancies, which means less abortions.”
“Then abortion clinics and Planned Parenthood won’t meet their abortion quotas and lose money, forcing them to cut back on services or even close,” Johnson wrote. “Such a great concept.”
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh, too, supported the idea.
“I thought the Georgia abortion ban was a huge win by itself,” Walsh wrote. “But now that it’s convinced feminists to stop having sex, I think we can officially call this the greatest conservative victory in history. Congratulations to all involved! We did it!”
I thought the Georgia abortion ban was a huge win by itself. But now that it‘s convinced feminists to stop having sex, I think we can officially call this the greatest conservative victory in history. Congratulations to all involved! We did it! #ISupportTheFeministSexStrike
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 11, 2019
Related:
Georgia Gov. Defies Hollywood Threats, Signs Pro-Life Heartbeat Bill
2nd Governor Vetoes Bill Protecting Babies Who Survive Abortion
Wisconsin Governor Says He Will Veto Bill Banning Infanticide
'Kill Them Now or Kill Them Later,' Alabama Democrat Says of Abortion
Trump Blasts Abortion: All Children ‘Made in the Holy Image of God’
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Jamie McCarthy/Staff
