RICHMOND, Va. — Abortion-rights advocates have been unable to halt the “Choose Life” license-plate variations in nearly two dozen states, so now they’re working to balance the bumper debate.
Activists are pushing a “Trust Women/Respect Choice” license plate in Virginia, which would become only the fourth state to offer a pro-choice plate and the first to require legislative approval for it. Supporters have threatened to sue if lawmakers don’t give drivers the option.
“We really don’t feel like a license plate is the place to be promoting a political agenda,” said Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia. “However, the pro-choice community feels like they’re being taken on by the anti-choice side with this license plate, and we feel like we need to get involved.”
Opponents, including the state’s attorney general and governor, say they oppose diverting money from plate fees to Planned Parenthood offices — not necessarily the plates themselves. The organization says the money from any license-plate sales — $15 per plate after the first 1,000 are sold — would not be used for abortions.
