Today the Feminist Majority, a leading women’s rights organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, endorsed Terry McAuliffe, a strong supporter of women’s rights. McAuliffe is running against state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, an extreme opponent of women’s rights.
Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority and National Advisory Committee Co-Chair of the National Organization for Women said, “It is a no-brainer for women and men who care about equal pay, access to women’s health clinics, birth control, and gender equality. There is a stark difference between McAuliffe and Cuccinelli on women’s issues.”
Terry McAuliffe believes that women should be able to make their own health decisions without interference from politicians either in Washington or Richmond. He will fight for access to women’s health clinics and opposes discrimination against women workers. Ken Cuccinelli is leading the fight to close comprehensive women’s health clinics in Virginia, supports the dangerous “personhood” amendment that would criminalize many forms of birth control and prevent life-saving treatments for pregnant women who are seriously ill or injured, and opposes abortion even in the cases of rape and incest.
“The Virginia Governor’s race in 2013 is of national importance. Cuccinelli is a leader in the fight to roll back women’s rights, and would set a radical agenda that disregards women’s lives,” continued Smeal. ”Women and their families cannot afford Cuccinelli as governor of Virginia.”
“Simply put, McAuliffe will support policies to increase women’s reproductive health access, to expand healthcare access for all, to increase job opportunities, to work for civil rights, and to expand educational opportunity. Cuccinelli will stand in the way of progress and look toward the past,” concluded Smeal.
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