Can you say "Handmaid's Tale?"

Lord. This is going to be one of those days. Lots of work upheaval, and then my mom sends me this in the mail. Via Democratic Underground (emphases mine):

Republican lawmakers are drafting new legislation that will make marriage a requirement for motherhood in the state of Indiana, including specific criminal penalties for unmarried women who do become pregnant "by means other than sexual intercourse."

According to a draft of the recommended change in state law, every woman in Indiana seeking to become a mother through assisted reproduction therapy such as in vitro fertilization, sperm donation, and egg donation, must first file for a "petition for parentage" in their local county probate court.

Only women who are married will be considered for the "gestational certificate" that must be presented to any doctor who facilitates the pregnancy. Further, the "gestational certificate" will only be given to married couples that successfully complete the same screening process currently required by law of adoptive parents.

As it the draft of the new law reads now, an intended parent "who knowingly or willingly participates in an artificial reproduction procedure" without court approval, "commits unauthorized reproduction, a Class B misdemeanor." The criminal charges will be the same for physicians who commit "unauthorized practice of artificial reproduction."

Read the rest of the article, and you can review the legislation here (pdf). I have to believe that this is one of those bills that gets introduced just to make a fuss, with no real chance of passing - but in this political climate, you never know. And either way, what a bullshit piece of legislation. I love my husband, but I'm sure as hell not interested in changing my name to "Ofchad." Guess I'll be crossing Indiana off of places I might want to live.