Under Gov. Rick Perry's regime, Texas has drifted farther to the right and has been cast into the center of the national debate on reproductive rights.
Earlier this year, state Sen. Wendy Davis stood up for abortion rights in a memorable filibuster before she was finally defeated by conservatives. Texas is also a state that prides itself not only on limiting women's reproductive rights, but also on restricting access to contraception and comprehensive women's healthcare.
That's why most people were shocked when the state's first lady, Anita Perry, recently came out in support of a women's right to choose.
On Saturday, Mrs. Perry stated that having an abortion is "a women's right" during an interview at the Texas Tribune Festival, reports Jezebel.
Speaking to Evan Smith, Perry said that abortion, an issue that Gov. Perry has made the cornerstone of his entire reign in Texas, "could be a women's right."
In front of a visibly surprised Smith, Perry tried to elaborate her opinion about why abortion in particular is a uniquely women's rights issue, saying, "That's really difficult for me, Evan, because I see it as a women's right. If they want to do that, that is their decision; they have to live with that decision."
Smith then followed up asking her to clarify. "Mrs. Perry, I want to be sure you didn't just inadvertently make news. Are you saying that you believe abortion is a women's right, to make that choice?"
"Yeah, that could be a women's right. Just like it's a man's right if he wants to have some kind of procedure. But I don't agree with it, and that's not my view," she stated, according to the Washington Post.
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