Indiana women are calling up their conservative governor to tell him about their periods

Who do you talk to about your period—your best friend? Your doctor? Your conservative governor?

Last week, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law extreme anti-abortion legislation that bans abortions on the basis of the race, sex, or potential disability of a fetus. Now, a growing number of the state’s women have decided: If Pence cares so much about what goes on in their vaginas and uteruses, well, they should probably keep him in the loop. By telling him all about their periods.

For the past week, Hoosier women have been dialing up the governor’s office to fill him in on the details of their menstrual cycles. “I need to get a message to the governor that I am on day three of my period,” one caller told Pence’s office. “My flow seems abnormally heavy, but my cramps are much better.”


The campaign has officially been dubbed Periods for Pence, and the pro-choice advocate behind it also created a Facebook page dedicated to rallying support for the cause, which has already amassed nearly 6,000 likes.



On Thursday, she created a Twitter account for the cause, too.

In an interview with her local ABC News affiliate, the page’s creator, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I wanted to give a voice for women who really didn’t feel like they were given any kind of input into a bill that would affect our life so much.”

Well played, lady. Well played.

Jen Gerson Uffalussy is a regular contributor to Fusion. She also writes about reproductive and sexual health/policy for Glamour, and television for The Guardian. She lives in Atlanta.

 
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