Actress Alyssa Milano called on women to withhold sex from men after Georgia enacted one of the strictest abortion laws in the country earlier this week.
“Our reproductive rights are being erased,” she tweeted. “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.”
Milano’s hashtag was trending Saturday.
Our reproductive rights are being erased.
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
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 11, 2019
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday signed legislation that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected — usually around six weeks of pregnancy. The state previously prohibited abortion after 20 weeks, with exceptions.
Kentucky, Mississippi, and Ohio have approved similar legislation in the last year.
Twitter users pointed out to Milano that her call for a sex strike works in favor of those who oppose abortion because abstinence will decrease the number of women seeking to terminate pregnancies.
@Alyssa_Milano I could not have thought of a better way to put @PPFA out of business. I don’t know who you are, but thank you for supporting the pro-life movement.
— Young At Fart (@JAlbertSmith) May 11, 2019
Wait this is such a good idea. Don’t want to get pregnant… don’t have sex. It’s almost like it was……. designed that way?
— madeleine kohnen (@Mrs_maddikohnen) May 11, 2019
Lol you mean abstinence is a way to avoid pregnancy? And it’s a choice to abstain? This is easily the most pro-life strike I’ve ever seen. 😂😂😂
— Sydney Vaughn (@AHumanPerson7) May 11, 2019
Brilliant. You have finally figured out how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
— Nate Miller (@trantelica) May 11, 2019
Milano also faced criticism from the left, as users claimed her call reinforced the idea that women are men’s gatekeepers for sex.
Milano’s husband, David Bugliari, defended his wife. When asked whether the sex strike was affecting him, he said it’s “working just fine.”
“You may have missed the point,” he responded. “It’s about women, and their right to make choices about their own health, lives & bodies”
hmm..trending #1 and got people talking about the issue? Working just fine. But, you may have missed the point. It’s about women, and their right to make choices about their own health, lives & bodies. Thx 4 checking in @davidwebbshow https://t.co/OjKiWm3JtM
— David Bugliari (@dbugliari) May 11, 2019
The actress later said women can love sex while standing up for their bodily autonomy.
“There are lots of alternatives to cis men,” she said. “Protect your vaginas, ladies. Men in positions of power are trying to legislate them.”
We can LOVE sex and fight for our bodily autonomy. There are lots of alternatives to cis men.
Protect your vaginas, ladies. Men in positions of power are trying to legislate them. #SexStrike pic.twitter.com/yPCXuMt286
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 11, 2019
