Louisiana Rep. Delisha Boyd is advocating for an exemption to Louisiana’s strict abortion ban for pregnancies that are the result of rape and incest. This is a personal issue for Boyd, as her mother was a victim of statutory rape at age 15 and became pregnant with Boyd. Boyd emphasizes the importance of letting survivors make their own choices and points out the hardships they face in a state with high maternal mortality rates and limited options for abortion. Boyd shared her story to highlight the need for this exemption, as she believes her mother’s life was negatively impacted by being forced to carry her pregnancy to term at a young age.
Since the passing of Louisiana’s abortion ban in 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the only exceptions allowed are in cases of serious risk to the mother’s health or with “medically futile” pregnancies. Boyd is working to amend her bill to only include rape and incest exceptions for those 17 and younger, in an attempt to make it more palatable to the committee and improve its chances of advancing to a full House debate. Louisiana is a conservative state in the Bible Belt, and Boyd faces opposition even from some Democrats, making her fight for these exemptions an uphill battle.
The impact of the ban is being felt across the state, with stories emerging of young girls who were raped and forced to carry their pregnancies to term. Boyd believes that it is important for legislators to understand the emotional, psychological, and spiritual impact on survivors of rape and incest who become pregnant. Her hope is that sharing her mother’s story will bring attention to the realities faced by these survivors and potentially change the minds of lawmakers who oppose abortion exemptions.
Boyd’s bill faces a tough road ahead, as a similar measure effectively died in the legislative committee last year. The upcoming committee review will be crucial in determining the fate of this bill and whether the exemption for rape and incest survivors will be included in Louisiana’s abortion ban. Despite the challenges she faces, Boyd remains committed to fighting for the rights of survivors and ensuring that they have the ability to make their own choices when it comes to their pregnancies.
As discussions around abortion continue in Louisiana and across the country, the personal stories shared by lawmakers like Boyd serve as a reminder of the human impact of legislative decisions. By bringing attention to the struggles faced by survivors of rape and incest who become pregnant, Boyd hopes to create greater understanding and empathy among her colleagues. Whether or not her bill succeeds, Boyd’s advocacy highlights the importance of centering the voices and experiences of those directly affected by legislation on reproductive rights.
