This one's a two-fer, in response to my post on the omnipresent anti-abortion Metro ads, "Metro Swathed in Anti-Abortion Shame."

Craig Howell writes:

Um, there’s a First Amendment issue here, folks. As a government agency, Metro cannot indulge in viewpoint discrimination. This matter was settled 30 years ago when the courts told Metro it could not refuse to run bus ads sponsored by the Gay Activists Alliance. I have been a member of what is now the Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance since 1973, and this victory remains one of our signature achievements.

Lisa responds:

Amanda, you pointed out the legal problem with this ad campaign yourself. When you say, “but when ad bombardments are targeted specifically on a captive audience of economically vulnerable women, they can be outright threatening,” you hit the nail on the head.

In Lehman v. City of Shaker Heights, Justice Douglas says in a concurring opinion, “the right of the commuters to be free from forced intrusions on their privacy precludes the city from transforming its vehicles of public transportation into forums for the dissemination of ideas upon this captive audience.”

I think this applies here, and the revenue from the Crisis Pregnancy Crap Houses should be turned down. I don’t want to be forced to ride a shame mobile.

Photo via This is Everything.

Yesterday, I hopped on a 90 Metrobus in the hopes of escaping the downpour. Little did I know that the unsuspecting bus I was boarding was actually an anti-abortion vehicle of shame!

The bus was wallpapered, front to back, on both sides, with this "FREE Abortion Alternatives" Ad, pictured. The ad, for a local crisis pregnancy center, offers free pregnancy tests, counseling, and "services" to pregnant women at four D.C.-area locations. Also on the menu: A good shaming! The woman's numb, downturned face says it all: "You're lost. You're confused. You're thinking about killing a tiny human. We can help."

Go ahead, try to look away: You'll still have to look at another identical forlorn future abortionist!

Blogger Kat of "This is Everything" boarded a shame bus last month (she also snapped the photo). "Ick," she wrote. "[I] pondered whether it would even be worth it to get off the bus (I decided against it since I had already paid the fare.. they have my money so no big deal whether I'm on the bus for six more blocks or not)."

Crisis Pregnancy Centers have a well-documented history of preying on the vulnerable, misrepresenting their legitimacy (what are these "services"?), and passing anti-abortion rhetoric as medical advice. In other words, not exactly what the women of D.C. need.

I know Metro likes to go all-out with its advertisements. And hey, I don't like being bombarded with Obama-themed Pepsi ads either. But the all-or-nothing approach can be a good thing—last January, it helped underpaid Washington Post post-production workers gain traction in their WashingtonPostUnfair.com campaign. And I've spied many Metro ads in the past encouraging D.C. citizens to get tested and treatment for HIV.

But when ad bombardments are targeted specifically on a captive audience of economically vulnerable women, they can be outright threatening. Kat writes: "I totally understand how crucial advertisements are as a form of revenue and financial support for WMATA . . . [but] ultimately I feel it is irresponsible of Metro to run ads for a company, foundation, or organization that deliberately jeopardizes women's health through misinformation and lacks respect for their autonomy."

Until the ads are replaced, Kat plans to voice her disapproval of the ad to WMATA. While I'm not sure this "Metro Customer Comment Form" will get us anywhere, you can give it a try here.

Photo via This is Everything.

The District of Columbia isn't the only locality sparing with lawmakers over political license plates. If Virginia state senator Ken Cuccinnelli gets his way, Virginia drivers will soon be able to wear their anti-abortion stances on their bumpers.

Last month, Cuccinnelli supported a bill that would allow Virginia residents to buy 'Choose Life' license plates from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Proceeds of the sales would go toward the state's "crisis pregnancy centers," outlets which provide freaked pregnant women with information about what to do next—and it's certainly not abortion!

The novelty license plates, championed by Choose Life, Inc., are currently "on the road" in 13 states: Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, South Dakota, Montana, Ohio Kentucky, and—yes, it is too late for them—Maryland.

When the bill was defeated in Virginia's Senate Transportation Committee, Cuccinnelli's initiative was tacked on to another initiative, which was passed. Supporters can already download their "Choose Life" plate application here [PDF]. Just check "Special Interest," write in "Choose Life," and agree to fork over $25, and you're on your way to driving away abortion!

Well, as long as Virginia Governor Tim Kaine signs the legislation into law. Now, Planned Parenthood is asking Virginians to call the Governor to ask him to veto the legislation. If form letters aren't your thing, you can call Kaine up at (804) 786-2211.