Republican Representative Justin Humphrey has penned House Bill 1441 and presented it to the state of Oklahoma. What HB 1441 states is the idea that abortion can now only be approved with written consent from the father of the fetus and not a singular decision from the mother. Last Tuesday, an Oklahoma House committee approved the passing of this bill much to the chagrin of many Oklahoma citizens. The public outcry only intensified when Justin Humphrey defended his beliefs claiming that women are "hosts" and that abortion is an unjustifiable excuse to write off an "irresponsible" sexual act.

In an interview with The Intercept, Humphrey made the following comments-

“I believe one of the breakdowns in our society is that we have excluded the man out of all of these types of decisions. I understand that they feel like that is their body,” he said of women. “I feel like it is a separate--what I call them is, is you’re a ‘host.’ And you know when you enter into a relationship you’re going to be that host and so, you know, if you pre-know that then take all precautions and don’t get pregnant,” he explained. “So that’s where I’m at. I’m like, hey, your body is your body and be responsible with it. But after you’re irresponsible then don’t claim, well, I can just go and do this with another body, when you’re the host and you invited that in.”

Abortion has been a controversial topic ever since it was introduced in the early 1800s, and for good reason. Not only is the idea uncomfortable to some, it welcomes many moral, ethical, religious, and practical debates of which both conflicting sides can construct valid arguments.

Add in rape and financial or medical concerns and the issue only furthers the intense complications some may have with it. With this being an emotionally charged opinion piece, I feel it only necessary to reveal my side on the spectrum being pro-choice. Make no mistake, however, pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion.

I simply cannot fathom the logic of stripping away the woman's right to choice, especially considering my gender. As strong as my desire to understand is, pregnancy and the birthing process is an impossible concept for my ignorant male mindset to comprehend. I want to understand it desperately to better appreciate just how spectacularly strong women are, but I fully understand that I never truly will.

Hearing that men in Oklahoma are now only furthering the degradation of women and their bodies is absolutely sickening. I do appreciate the idea that Mr. Humphrey is looking out for the male voice--without the male, there is no fetus. The man should have the right to know about the pregnancy, but at the end of the day, it is her body. It is her baby. It is her choice. To rob women of that is not only disrespectful, it's an embarrassing blow to us men.

But what pushes this situation into the realm of an Orwellian nightmare is Mr. Humphrey's comments towards the female gender. Hearing him describing women as "hosts" is a concept so ludicrous, I am genuinely perplexed that a human being could even accidentally stumble on thinking it. I understand his reasoning--women create life from inside of them, therefore act as hosts--but to write off the process as a meaningless and unimportant chore while categorizing an entire gender in such a degrading term is monstrous.

It's almost spectacular how inept this thinking is. To think your fellow man holds an equal say in the procreation process is not just hilarious, it's a mindset I refuse to be lumped in with. I stubbed my toe on my dining room table while writing that last paragraph and that simple act made me realize just how quickly I would crumble even during period pains let alone a nine month pregnancy.

On behalf of the male gender, I'd like to apologize for Mr. Humphrey's comments. Not all of us men believe this and I sure do hope more of us come out in support. You are not hosts and you should not have to settle for written consent to have access to your body. You are beautiful, strong, intelligent beings who live a life us men do not have the courage to even think about. Without you, we are nothing, no matter what some Oklahoma lawman says.

Women are not hosts, Humphrey. They are stronger than you will ever hope to be. What you have forgotten that all of us men know, however, is that it is truly unwise to anger them.

Good luck, my man. You're gonna need it.