Anita Perry, wife of Republican Governor Rick Perry, said in an interview Saturday that abortion is a "woman's right." The governor has said that he aims to make abortion "a thing of the past."
Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands with his wife Anita as he makes a campaign stop at the Iowa 80 Group in Walcott, Iowa, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011. (Photo by Charles Dharapak/AP)
Rick Perry may think abortion should be outlawed, but his wife disagrees.
Texas First Lady Anita Perry told an interviewer on Saturday that she believes it is “a woman’s right” to have full control of her reproductive health. When asked at the Texas Tribune Festival if she believed abortion should be a personal choice, Perry said, “I mean, I think that yeah, that could be a woman’s right. Just like it’s a man’s right if he wants to have some kind of procedure.”
Governor Perry has said that he believes abortion should be banned and said in December that he aimed to make the procedure “a thing of the past.” He also signed a bill this July that could lead to the closure of nearly all of Texas’ abortion clinics. He also banned abortions after 20 weeks. National women’s rights groups and health care providers have filed suit to overturn the clinic-shuttering law, which is set to take effect on October 29.
Anita Perry is not the only Texas first lady to be more progressive on reproductive rights than her husband. Laura Bush is also on record supporting Roe v. Wade.
