Rally protests Okla. 'personhood' bill

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- Several hundred people protested at the Oklahoma statehouse against a bill declaring "personhood" starts with conception.

Many of those at the rally Tuesday were women, who put on aprons and removed their shoes to suggest legislators want to return to the days when women spent most of their time in the kitchen, the Tulsa World reported.

The personhood bill has passed the state Senate and is awaiting action in the House. Another bill, which was released Monday by a Senate committee, would require abortion clinics to make fetal heartbeats available to all women before they have the procedure.

State Sen. Judy McIntyre, a Tulsa Democrat, held up an obscene sign during the rally: "If I wanted the government in my womb, I'd [expletive] a senator."

She said she decided to be photographed with the sign -- brought by someone else -- because she believes the language is no more offensive than the bill.

Critics say that "personhood" measures, which have been introduced in a number of states, might lead to the banning of some types of birth control and that women could even be charged with homicide if they have miscarriages.