Letter: Manassas City Council’s new clinic rule is discriminatory

Politicians at both the state and local levels, including right here in Manassas, are manipulating laws to block access to our constitutionally protected reproductive rights. In May, the Manassas City Council changed the rules for abortion providers. From now on, some abortion providers will be required to acquire a special permit before they can open for business or relocate in Manassas -- a permit not required of similar facilities, such as doctor and dentist offices. 

All across the commonwealth, abortion providers face medically unnecessary, state mandated rules designed to shut them down.  How do we know? The rules are opposed by medical experts. Furthermore, the statewide rules do not apply to any other health care facility in the commonwealth.  Abortion facilities are being singled out.

While Manassas' discriminatory rule may now be on the local books, we have an opportunity to prevent similar statewide rules.  This September, the state Board of Health will be meeting to vote on these rules. I will be helping demonstrate that the abortion clinics (which provide a full range of services to women, especially those who can afford no other place to go) in the Commonwealth of Virginia need to remain open, and not be singled out in a manner pressuring them to close.

I am not advocating that everyone should go get an abortion.  I would rather have condoms passed out at every street corner, and Viagra ads be banned.  I would rather see an adoption agency next door to every women's health clinic. However, some women feel as if their only alternative is the termination of a pregnancy.  Unless I have walked in their shoes, I cannot judge their decision.  I can only work to allow them a safe and legal clinic to help them.

Liz Alcauskas, Dale City