Huge Turnout at Michigan Capitol Reading of 'Vagina Monologues'

By Dawson Bell and Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press

19 June 12

Several thousand people thronged the state Capitol lawn this evening, to protest the treatment of two female lawmakers who were barred from speaking on the House floor last Thursday following an emotional debate over abortion.

They heard a recitation by the two lawmakers and others of The Vagina Monologues.

The performance, kicked off by the work's author Eve Ensler who flew in from California for the occasion, was the culmination of five days of reaction to the decision by House Republican leaders to issue one-day revocations of the right of state Reps. Lisa Brown, D-West Bloomfield, and Barb Byrum, D-Onondaga , to speak on the House floor.

They said the discipline was in response to incivility displayed by the two representatives a day earlier during a debate over legislation to impose new restrictions on abortion clinics. Brown said she was punished for using the word vagina.

Welcoming the crowd today, Brown said the legislation would "effectively overturn Roe v. Wade," the 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision which ended most state-level restrictions on abortion, and "turn back the clock to the 60s, when women were denied health care."

Concluding her remarks during the House debate, Brown had said, "I'm flattered that you are all so interested in my vagina, but ‘no' means ‘no.'"

Today, she said, "We shouldn't be legislating vaginas, if you can't say vagina."

Byrum got her one-day gag order after she reacted vigorously during the abortion debate when she was not allowed to speak on an amendment she sponsored that would have required a man seeking a vasectomy to have proof of a medical emergency or life-threatening condition.

Backers of the Legislation said today, as they did last week, that the controversy wasn't about Brown's choice of words, but her behavior, and that the legislation, approved on vote of 70-39, was not an attack on women but an attempt to protect patients from unscrupulous abortion providers and unsanitary abortion clinics.

Today's demonstration, however, was all about female sexuality and the Monologues, a 1998 stage play made up of a series of anecdotes about women and what were once called their private parts.

The crowd, estimated at about 2,500, was welcomed by Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, who said: "Welcome to all of you and your lady parts!"

Austin Muir, 21, of Lapeer, came bearing a sign that said "Trust Women," and to show support for the women in his life, including his mother who is a midwife. "It ridiculous what's going on here," he said.

Former state Rep. Maxine Berman, D-West Bloomfield, (author of a book about the Legislature called "The Only Boobs in the House are Men") doesn't participate in too many political events any more.

"But last week just put me over the top," she said.

Brown is Berman's representative, "And if she has no voice, than neither do I," she said.

The event was a lesson in creative signage. Angela Ash, 25, of Grand Rapids, held aloft "Keep Your Mitts off my bitts," While Sherry Alef, 58, of Algonac, carried a sign that proclaimed: "Angry white woman. Don't shush me."

Pasted on her backside was another warning: "this slut votes."

Another hand-painted sign in the middle of the crowd said: "I Didn't Come From Your Rib. You Came From My Vagina."

Whitmer said: "When they took the microphone away from my colleagues in the House, it was beyond the pale. It was not only a cowardly attack on her free speech rights, but the rights of her constituents as well."

A Facebook page set up for the event showed more than 3,000 people signing up to attend the 6 p.m. reading. Shortly before 5 p.m., several hundred people were laying down blankets, opening up lawn chairs and signing in for the play.

Afterwards, Byrum organized a fundraiser to raise money to attract more women to politics.

Ensler, who created the Vagina Monologues, fired up the crowd after the stories were done.

"I'm over dudes who can't even say vagina," she said. "I'm over the Michigan state Legislature ... censoring and rebuking and removing Lisa Brown. My vagina's got decorum."

She called on all women to participate in "One billion Rising," on Feb. 14, 2013. On that day, she urged women to leave their jobs and their schools and go to the streets to dance.

"I want you to take over this place," Ensler said. "I want you to dance for vaginas and life."

Whitmer ended the rally with the three V's: "Vagina, Voice, Vote!"

Related: Blog replay of the "Vagina Monologues" performance

2001 flashback: Meet the author of 'The Vagina Monologues'

Related: Dem women try to convert "Vagina Monologues" buzz to campaign cash