Washington Pharmacists: “No Sluts Will Darken Our Doorway”

The State of Washington recently passed a law requiring all pharmacies to maintain a supply of Plan B, the emergency contraceptive. A pharmacist can still refuse to sell Plan B, but ONLY if another pharmacist is present who's willing to fill the order.

Washington is one of the most liberal states in the country, but it still took a huge public outcry, and pressure from the governor, to get the State Board of Pharmacy to adopt this law. And now some pharmacists have filed a lawsuit, claiming the law violates their “Constitutional rights.” Ah yes, I remember now: the Constitutional right to tell fallen women and pregnant sluts to get the fuck out of your store and go straight to Hell.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are pharmacists Rhonda Mesler and Margo Thelen, and Stormans Inc., the owners of Ralph's Thriftway in Olympia, WA, a grocery store that includes a pharmacy.

One of the favorite soundbites from the Far Right is that there are “too many lawyers,” “too much litigation.” So far the Rightwing reaction to this particular lawsuit has been “___________________________________.”

When the pharmacists filing the lawsuit were asked whether they themselves would be willing to adopt and raise the children whose births they insisted on, their answer was “________________________________.”

Washington State Enters the 21st Century

Washington may be a liberal state, but it still has its share of mouthbreathing dimwits. You know the type — they think a vegetarian who works at Burger King should be allowed to refuse to serve hamburgers. I think that was it. Oh, I remember now: a pharmacist who doesn’t believe in birth control should be able to refuse to fill a birth control prescription.

This seems like the no-brainer of the week, but the Washington State Board of Pharmacy has ruled unanimously that drug stores have a duty to fill all lawful prescriptions. Period. This includes Plan B, the emergency contraception pill. Any individual pharmacists or drug stores that violate these rules could have their licenses revoked.

A woman from Planned Parenthood said the ruling “ensures that men and women will have access to their health care.”

And now, equal time for the bookburning crowd: A spokesman for Human Life Washington said “I don’t think pharmacists who adhere to traditional moral precepts are going to allow their conscience to be overrun by the Board of Pharmacy.” Or maybe these “moral” pharmacists could find another job that doesn’t clash with their religious beliefs.

“Human Life Washington” — LOL. If there was a truth-in-labeling law for political groups, they'd have to call themselves Human Fetus Washington or Unborn Life Washington. If you're in the mood for a good laugh, check out their website.