Thousands meet on Capitol lawn to support lawmaker who used the word 'vagina'

LANSING, MI (WNEM) -

Thousands met on Michigan's Capitol lawn Monday night to rally for female rights and their opposition to anti-abortion laws.

This comes the week after Michigan State Rep. Lisa Brown, D-West Bloomfield, claims she was banned from speaking on the floor last Thursday, the day after she used the word "vagina" during House legislative discussion on new abortion legislation.  Brown told Republicans she was flattered they were "all so concerned about my vagina. But no means no."

"You get mad at her saying vagina when you're trying to regulate ours?  I mean, do they not make that connection or what?" asked Susie Simons, who was at the rally in support of Brown.

Eve Ensler, the writer of Vagina Monologues, made a special trip to Michigan to support Brown and the thousands on the Capitol lawn. Vagina Monologues are short stories that have the theme of female empowerment, and Ensler put on a special production of the monologues Monday night, using state representatives as special actresses.  Michigan State Rep. Stacey Erwin-Oakes, D-Saginaw, played her part.

"If she can't say vagina on the House floor, then why are we legislating vagina?" asks Erwin-Oakes.

Republicans who control the chamber said Brown violated decorum Wednesday while speaking against a bill requiring doctors to ensure women aren't coerced into ending their pregnancies.

Copyright WNEM 2012 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reservedThousands meet on Capitol lawn to support lawmaker who used the word 'vagina'

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