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Protest Performance of "Vagina Monologues" Planned at Capitol

Rick Pluta
/
MPRN

People with blankets and lawn chairs are already gathering in front of the state Capitol in Lansing for a protest performance Monday of “The Vagina Monologues.”The event was sparked by an order last week from state House Republican leaders. Two female lawmakers were banned from speaking on the floor for a day because of comments they made during a heated abortion debate.

State Representative Lisa Brown says there’s been a national and international response over her being silenced for using the word “vagina.”

“I think people are just outraged by it,” she says.

Brown will be one of the performers tonight on the Capitol steps. So will other female legislators, as well as Eve Ensler. She’s the playwright who wrote “The Vagina Monologues.”

A House GOP spokesman says Brown was not sanctioned for using the word “vagina,” but for using the phrase “no means no,” which commonly refers to date rape.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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