As a woman, I am angry.

As an American, I am disappointed.

As a human being, I am absolutely disgusted.

This past week the Alabama Senate made a controversial ruling on abortion law. Going directly against the federal statute enacted with the case of Roe v. Wade, this completely discounts the Supremacy Clause. The goal of these lawmakers, fully aware that they are breaking federal law with this concept, is to take the case to the Supreme Court. Only then can a true reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision occur and a federal statute made to prohibit abortion in the country.

Yet the most controversial aspect of this law is not simply the law itself, but the lawmakers behind this policy. The great masterminds who constructed, supported, and voted to pass this bill are made up of a very homogeneous group - white males. Republican or Democrat, their party affiliation does not matter. What is curious, however, is how 25 individuals who are themselves physically incapable of both pregnancy and abortion, had the right to create a standard over women's bodies. Why are they the most qualified to consider the pros and cons a woman faces in this type of situation? Why do they represent the legal voice of female reproductive health?

The other aspect of this bill completely demoralizing females rights is the severity of the law. This Alabama law makes abortion illegal in all cases - including rape and incest. The only legal scenario in which a woman may obtain an abortion would be if the life of the mother or fetus was in danger. The mother would not be held legally liable for the abortion, with all culpability instead put on the Doctor who performed the abortion. This act committed by a Doctor would be considered a felony under the "Alabama Human Life Protection Act". A felony, by definition, is "a crime, typically involving violence, and punishable by more than 1-year imprisonment or death," according to dictionary.com.

Breaking this law, as written in the bill, would qualify the felon for a punishment of up to 99 years in prison for doctors. Currently, in the state of Alabama, the penalty for second-degree rape is a maximum punishment of 20 years. Putting it into perspective, a rapist sentenced to the longest possible jail time for his crimes would still be out of jail 77 years ahead of the Doctor who ended the unintended pregnancy of that rapist's victim.

This should not be a conversation of republican vs democrat. This should not be a piece of legislation that is voted on because of sponsorship or election outcomes, incentive or personal image, or religion. This is a bill that is taking away a minority population's human right to healthcare, and personal right to have jurisdiction over their own body. These lawmakers must understand how detrimental and inhumane such a decision is, and how many people are going to be hurt through this process.

Article 25 of the United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services".

As a woman, I am frustrated that the female voice has been cast so far out of this conversation.

As an American, I am saddened that our lawmakers can be so out of touch with their constituents.

As a human, I believe that everyone deserves the right to have full control over their bodies, and I know that this legislation will be detrimental to our society.